Lord Jesus and that love fâ—ileth dâ—ieth up in loving him that I finde no way to spend my love-desires and the yolke of my heart upon that fairest dearest one I am far behinde with my narrow heart O how ebbe a soul have I to take in Christs love for let worlds be multiplied according to Angels understanding in millions while they weary themselves these worlds would not contain the thousand part of his love O if I could yoke in amongst the thick of Angels Seraphims now-glorified Saints could raise a new love-song of Christ before all the world I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ if every finger member bone and joynt were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell I would they could all send out love-praises high songs of praise for evermore to that plant of renown to that royall high Prince Jesus my Lord but alace his love swelleth in me findeth no vent alace what can a dumb prisoner doe or say for him O for an ingine to write a book of Christ and his love nay I am left of him bound chained with his love I cannot finde a loosed soul to lift up his praises and give them out to others but oh my day light hath thick clouds I cannot shine in his praises I am often like a ship plying about to seek the wind I saile at great leisure and cannot be blowne upon that lovliest Lord. O if I could turn my sailes to Christs right arth that I had my hearts wishes of his love But I but marre his praises nay I know no comparison of what Christ is and what his worth is all the Angels all the glorified praise him not so much as in halfes who can advance him or utter all his praises I want nothing unknown faces favour me enemies must speak good of the truth my masters cause purchaseth commendation The hopes of my enlargement from appearances are cold my faith hath no bed to sleep upon but omnipotency The goodwill of the Lord his sweetest presence be with you and that childe Grace peace be yours Aberden 1637. Your Lae in all duty in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 9 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I would not omit to write a line with this christian bearer one in your La own case driven neer to Christ in and by her affliction I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not however it be Christ is so good that I will have no other tutour suppose I could have waile choise of ten thousand beside I think now five hundred heavie hearts for him too little I wish Christ now weeping suffering contemned of men were more dear desirable to many souls then he is I am sure if the saints wanted Christs crosse so profitable so sweet they might for the gain and glory of it wish it were lawfull either to buy or borrow his crosse but it iâ— a mercy that the saints have it laid to their hand for nothing for I know no sweeter way to heaven then through free grace hard trials together one of these cannot well want another O that time would Post faster hasten our long-looked for communion with that fairest fairest among the sons of men O that the day would favour us come and put Christ us in others armes I am sure a few yeers will doe our turn the souldiers hour-glasse will soon run out Madam look to your lamp and look for your Lords coming let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet childe Christs jealousie will not admit two equall loves in your La heart he must have one that the greatest a little one to a creature may must suffice a soul married to him your maker is your husband Isa. 54. I would wish you well my obligation these many yeers by gone speak no lesse to me but more I can neither wish nor pray nor desire for to your La then Christ singled wailed out from all created good things or Christ howbeit wet in his own blood and wearing a crown of thorns I am sure the saints at their best are but strangers to the weight worth of the incomparable sweetnesse of Christ He is so new so fresh in excellency every day of new to these that search more and more in him as if heaven could furnish as many new Christs If I may speak so as there are dayes betwixt him us yet he is one and the same Oh we love an unknown lover when we love Christ Let me hear how the childe is every way the Prayers of a prisoner of Christ be upon him grace for evermore even while glory perfect it be with your La Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the noble Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 10 MADAM NOtwithstanding the great haste of the bearer I would blesse your La in paper desiring that since Christ hath ever envied that the world should have your love by him that ye give your self out for Christ and that ye may be for no other I know none worthy of you but Christ Madam I am either suffering for Christ and this is either the sure and good way or I have done with heaven and will never see Gods face which I blesse him cannot be I write my blessing to that sweet childe that ye have borrowed from God he is no heritage to you but a loan love him as folks doe borrowed things my heart is heavie for you They say the Kirk of Christ hath neither son nor heir and therefore her enemies shall possesse her but I know she is not that ill friended her husband is her heir and she his heritage If my Lord would be pleased I would desire some were dealt with for my return to Anwoth but if that never be I thank God Anwoth is not heaven preaching is nor Christ I hope to wait on Let me hear how the childe is and your La minde hopes of him for it would ease my heart to know that he is well I am in good terms with Christ but oh my guiltinesse yet he bringeth not plea's betwixt him and me to the streets and before the sun Grace grace for evermore be with your La Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 11 MADAM GRace mercy peace to you I am refreshed with your Letter the right hand of him to whom belong the issues from death hath been gracious to that sweet childe I dow not I doe not forget him your La in my prayers Madam for your own case I love carefull and withall doing-complaints of want of practice because I observe many who think it holiness enough to complain and set themselves at nothing as if to
to hear from you I hear Christ hath been that Kind as to visit you with sickness to bring you to the door of the grave but ye found the door shut blessed be his glorious name while ye be riper for eternity He will have more service of you therefore he seeketh of you that hence forth ye be honest to your new husband the Son of God We have all Idol-love are wh 〈…〉 y inclined to love other things beside our Lord and therefore our Lord hunteth for our love moe wayes then one or two Oh that Christ had his own of us I know he will not want you that is a sweet wilfulness in his Love ye have as good cause oâ— the other part to be head strong peremptory in your love to Christ not to part or divide your love betwixt Him the world if it were more it is little enough yea too little for Christ. I am now every way in good terms with Christ he hath set a banished prisoner as a seal on his heart and as a bracelet on his arme that crabbed and black tree of the cross laugheth upon me now the alarming noise of the cross is worse then it self I love Christs glooms better then the world 's worm-eaten joyes Oh if all the Kingdom were as I am except these bonds my losse is gain my sadness joyfull my bonds liberty my tears comfortable This world is not worth a drink of cold water O but Christ's love casteth a great heat 〈◊〉 hell all the salt sea and the rivers of the earth cannot quench it I remember you to God ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 9. 1637. Yours â—n his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Caskiberry 31 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your La is I know not how to requite your La kindness but your love to the Saints Madam is Laid up in heaven I know it is for your welbeloved Christs sake that ye make his friends so dear to you concerne your self somuch in them I am in this house of my pilgrimage every way in good case Christ is most kind and loving to my soul it pleaseth him to feast with his unseen consolations a stranger and an exiled prisoner and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus with all the comfort out of heaven his yoke is easie and his burden light This is his truth I now suffer for for he hath sealed it â—ith his blessed presence I know Christ shall yet win the day and gaine the battell in Scotland Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES BRUCE Minister of the Gospel 32 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you Upon the nearest acquaintance that we are fathers children I thought good to write to you My case in my bonds for the honour of my royall Prince and King Jesus iâ— as good as becometh the witness of such a Soveraign King At my first coming hither I was in great heaviness wrestling vvith challenges being burdened in heart as I am yet for my silent Sabbaths and for a bereft people young ones new-borne plucked from the breasts the Childrens table drawn I thought I was a drie tree cast over the dike of the vine-yard but my secret conceptions of Christs love at his sweet long-desired return to my soul were found to be a lye of Christs love forged by the tempter and my own heart and I am perswaded that it was so Now there is greater peace and security within then before the court is raised and dismissed for it was not fenced in God's name I was far mistaken who should have summoned Christ for unkindness misted faith my sever conceived amiss of him novv novv he is pleased to feast a poor prisoner and to refresh me vvith joy unspeakable and glorious so as the holy Spirit is witness that my sufferings are for Christs truth and God forbid I should deny the testimony of the holy Spirit and make him a false witness Now I testify under my hand out of some small experience that Châ—ists cause even with the cross is better then the Kings crown that his reproaches are sweet his cross perfumed the walls of my prison fair large my losses gain I desire you my dear Brother help me to praise and remember me in your prayers to God Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Earlstoun 33 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I exhort you to go on in your journey your day is short your afternoon-sun will soon goe down make an end of your accounts with your Lord for Death and Judgement are tides that bide no man salvation is supposed to be at the door and Christianity is thought an easie task but I finde it hard and the way strait and narrow were it not but my guide is content to wait on me and to care for a tired traveller Hurt not your conscience with any known sin let your children be as so many flowers borrowed from God if the flowers die or wither thank God for a summers-loan of them keep good neighbourhood to borrow lend with him Set your heart upon heaven and trouble not your spirit with this clay-Idol of the world which is but vanity and hath but the lustre of the Rain-bow in the air which cometh and goeth with a flying March-shower Clay is the Idol of bastards not the inheritance of the children My Lord hath been pleased to make many unknown faces laugh upon me and hath made me well content of a borrowed fire-side and a borrowed bed I am feasted with the joyes of the holy Ghost my royal King beareth my charges honourably I love the smell of Christ's sweet breath better then the worlds gold I would I had help to praise him The great Messenger of the Covenant the Son of God establish you on your rock keep you to the day of his coming Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To CARLETOUN 34 Worthy much honoured GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter from my Brother to the which I now answer particularly I confess two things of my self 1. Woe woe is me that men should think there is any thing in me He is my witness before whom I am as crystall that the secret housâ—-devils that bear me too oft company that this sink of corruption which I finde within maketh me goe with low sailes if otherâ— saw what I see they would look by me but not to me 2. I know this shower of his free grace behooved to be on me otherwayes I would have withered I know also I have need of a buffeting tempter that grace may be
gather rescue his scattered sheep from the hands of cruel rigorous Lords that have ruled over them with force O that mine eyes might see the moon-light turn to the light of the sun But I still fear the quarrel of a broken Covenant in Scotland standeth before the Lord However it be I avouch it before the world the tabernacle of the Lord shall again be in the midst of Scotland and the glory of the Lord shall dwell in beauty as the light of many days in one in this land O what could my soul desire more next to my Lord Jesus while I am in this flesh but that Christ his Kingdom might be great amongst Jews Gentiles that the Isles amongst them overclouded darkned Britan might have the glory of a noon-day's sun Oh that I had any thing I will not except my part in Christ to wodset or lay in pledge to redeem buy such glory to my highest royal Prince my sweet Lord Jesus my poor little heaven were well bestowed if it could stand a pawne for ever to set on high the glory of my Lord But I know he needeth not wages nor hire at my hand Yea I know if my eternal glory could weigh down in weight it 's alone all the eternal glory of thâ— blessed Angels of all the spirits of just perfect men glorified to be glorified Oh alas how far am I engaged to forgoe it for and give it over to Christ sobeing he might thereby be set on high above ten thousand thousand millions of heavens in the conquest of many many nations to his Kingdom Oh that his Kingdom would come O that all the world would stoop before him O blessed hands that shall put the crown upon Christ's head in Scosland But alas I can scarce get leave to ware my love on him I can finde no wayes to â—uâ— my hâ—at upon Christ my love that I with my soul bestow on him it is like to die upon my hand I think it no bairns-play to be hungred with Christ's love To love him to want him wanteth little of hell I am sure he knoweth how my joy would swell upon me from a little well to a great sea to have as much of his love as wide a soul answerable to comprehend it till I cried hold Lord no more But I finde he will not have me to be mine own steward nor mine own carver Christ keepeth the keys of Christ to speak so of his own love and he is a wiser distributer then I can take up I know there is more in him then would make me run over like a coast-full-sea I were happy for evermore to get leave to stand but beside Christ and his love and to look in suppose I were interdicted of God to come near hand touch or embrace kiss or set too my sinfull head and drink my self drunken with that lovely thing God send me that I would have for I now verily see more clearly then before our folly in drinking dead waters in playing the whore with our soul's love upon running-out wells broken sheards of creatures of yesterday whom Time will unlaw with the penalty of losing their being natural ornaments O when a soul's love is itching to speak so for God and when Christ in his boundless and bottomless love beauty and excellency cometh rubbeth up exciteth that love what can be heaven if this be not heaven I am sure this bit feckless narrow short love of regenerated sinners was born for no other end but to breath live and love dwell in the bosom and betwixt the breasts of Christ Where is there a bed or a lodging for the saints love but Christ O that he would take our selves off our hand for neither we nor the creatures can be either due conquest or lawfull heritage to love Christ none but Christ is Lord proprietour of it Oh alas how pitifull is it that so much of our love goeth by him O but we be wretched wasters of our soul's love I know it is the deep of bottomless and unsearchable providence that the saints are suffered to play the whore from God and that their love goeth a hunting when God knoweth it shall rost nothing of that at supper-time The renewed would have it otherwise why is it so seeing our Lord can keep us without nodding tottering or reeling or any fall at all Our desires I hope shall meet with perfection but God will have our sins an office-house for God's grace hath made sin a matter of an unlaw penalty for the Son of God's blood howbeit sin should be our sorrow yet there is a sort of acquiescing resting upon God's dispensation required of us that there is such a thing in us as Sin whereupon mercy forgiveness healing curing in our sweet Physician may finde a field to work upon O what a deep is here that created wit cannot take up However matters goe it is our happiness to win new ground daily in Christ's love and to purchase a new piece of it daily and to adde conquest to conquest till our Lord Jesus we be so near other that Satan shall not draw a straw or a threed betwixt us And for my self I have no greater joy in my welfavoured bonds for Christ then that I know time shall put him me together that my love longing hath room liberty amidst my bonds foes whereof there are not a few here of all ranks to goe visit the borders utter coasts of my Lord Jesus's countrey see at least afar off darkly the countrey which shall be mine inheritance which is my Lord Jesus's due both through birth and conquest I dare avouch to all that know God that the saints know not the length largeness of the sweet earnest of the sweet green sheaves before the harvest that might be had on this side of the water if we should take more pains And that we all goe to heaven with less earnest lighter purses of the hoped-for summe then otherwise we might doe if we took more pains to win further in upon Christ in this pilgrimage of our absence from him Grace grace glory be your portion Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN LAWRIE 137 Dear Brother I Am sorry that ye or so many in this Kingdom should expect so much of me an empty reed Verily I am a naughty poor body But if the tinkling of my Lord Jesus's iron chains on legs arms could sound the high praises of my royall King whose prisoner I am O how would my joy run over If my Lord would bring edificatioÌ„ to one soul by my bonds I am satisfied but I know not what I can doe to such a princely beautifull welbeloved He is far behinde with me Little thanks to me to say to others his wind bloweth on me who
down hungry in waiting for the mariage-supper of the lamb neverthelesse I think it the Lords wise love that feeds us with hunger and makes us fat with wants and desertions I know not my deare brother if our worthy brethren be gone to sea or not they are on my heart and in my prayers if they be yet with you salute my deare friend John Stuart my weilbeloved brethren in the Lord Mr Blair Mr Hamilton Mr Livingston and Mr Mak-Cleland and acquaint them with my troubles and intreat them to pray for the poor afflicted prisoner of Christ They are deare to my soul I seek your prayers and theirs for my flock their remembrance breaks my heart I desire to love that people and others my deare acquantance in Christ with love in God and as God loveth them I know that he who sent me to the west and south sends me also to the north I will Charge my soul to beleeve and to wait for him and will follow his providence and not goe before it nor stay behind it Now my deare brother taking farewell in paper I commend you all to the word of his grace and to the work of his spirit to him who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand that you may be keept spotlesse till the day of Jesus our Lord. I am From Irwing being on my Iourney to Christs palace in Aberden August 4. 1636. Your Brother in affliction in our sweet Lord Jesus S. R. To his Parochiners 2 DEarly beloved longed for in the Lord my crown my joy in the day of Christ Grace be to you and peace from God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I long exceedingly to know if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt you Christ holdeth and if you follow on to know the Lord. My day thoughts and my night thoughts are of you while ye sleep I am afraid of your souls that they be off the rock next to my Lord Jesus and this fallen kirk ye have the greaest share of my sorrow and also of my joy ye are the matter of the tears care fear and daily prayers of an oppressed prisoner of Christ as I am in bonds for my high and lofty one my Royall and princely master my Lord Jesus so I am in bonds for you for I should have sleeped in my warme nest kept the fat world in my armes and the cords of my tabernacle should have been fastned more strongly I might have sung an Evangel of Ease to my soul and you for a time with my brethren the sons of my mother that were angry at me have thrust me out of the vineyard if I should have been broken and drawn on to mire you the Lords flock to cause you eat pastures troden upon with mens feet and to drink foul and muddie waters But truly the almighty was a rerror to me his fear made me afraid O my Lord judge if my ministry be not deare to me but not so dear by many degrees as Christ Jesus my Lord God knoweth the heavie sad Sabbaths I have bad since I laid down at my Masters feet my two shepherds staves I have been often saying as it is writen Lam. 3 52. my enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause they have cut off my life in the dungeon cast a stone upon me for next to Christ I had but one joy the apple of the eye of my delights to preach Christ my Lord and they have violently plucked that away from me it was to me like the poor mans one eye they have put out that eye and quenched my light in the inheritance of the Lord but my eye is toward the Lord I know I shall see the salvation of God and that my hope shall not alwayes be forgotten And my sorrow shall want nothing to compleat it and to make me say what availeth it me to live if ye follow the voice of a stranger of one that cometh in to the sheepfold not by Christ the door but climbeth up another way if the man build his hay and stuble upon the golden foundation Christ Iesus already laid among you ye follow him I assure you the mans work shall burn never bide Gods fire and ye he both shall be in danger of everlasting burning except ye repent O if any pain any sorrow any losse that I can suffer for Christ and for you were laid in pledge to buy Christs love to you and that I could lay my dearest joyes next to Christ my Lord in the gap betwixt you eternall destruction O if I had paper as broad as heaven and earth and inke as the sea and all the rivers and fountaines of the earth were able to write the love the worth the excellency the Sweetnesse and due praises of our dearest and fairest welbeloved and then if ye could read understand it what could I want if my ministry among you should make a marriage between the little bride in that bounds the bridegroom O how rich a prisoner were I if I could obtaine of my Lord before whom I stand for you the salvation of you all O What a prey had I gotten to have you catched in Christs net O then I had cast out my Lords lines his net with a rich gain O then wel-wared pained breast and sore back and a crased body in speaking early and late to you my witnesse is above your heaven would be two heavens to me the salvation of you all as two salvations to me I would subscribe a suspension and a fristing of my heaven for many hundred yeers according to Gods good pleasure if ye were sure in the upper lodging in our fathers house before me I take to witnesse heaven and earth against you I take instruments in the hands of that sun day light that beheld us in the hands of the timber walls of that kirk if I drew not up a fair contract of mariage betvvixt you Christ if I went not with offers betwixt the bridegroome you your conscience did bear you witnesse your mouths confessed that there were many fair trysts meetings drawn on betwixt Christ and you at communion-feasts other occasions there were braclets jewels rings and love-letters sent to you by the bridegroom it was told you what a fair dowrie ye should have and what a house your husband and ye should dwell in and what was the bridgroomes excellencie Sweetnesse might Power The Eternitie and glory of his Kingdome the exceeding deepnesse of his love who sought his black wife through pain fires shame death the grave and swimmed the salt sea for her undergoeing the curse of the law then was made a curse for you ye then consented and said Even so I take him I counsell you beware of the new strange leaven of mens inventions beside and against the word of God contrair to the oath of this kirk novv comeing among
greater then ten whole earths or ten worlds O what beauty would be in it and what a smell would it cast but a blast of the breath of that fairest rose in all Gods Paradise even of Christ Jesus our Lord one look of that fairest face would be infinitly in beauty and smell above all imaginable and created glory I wonder that men dow bide off Christ I would esteem my self blessed if I could make an open proclamation and gather all the world that are living upon the earth Jew and Gentile and all that shall be borne to the blowing of the last trumpet to flock round about Christ and to stand looking wondering admiring and adoring his beauty and sweetnesse for his fire is hotter then any other fire his love sweeter then common love his beauty surpasseth all other beauty When I am heavie and sad one of his love-looks would do me meekel worlds good o if ye would fall in love with him Hovv blessed were I how glad would my soul be to help you to love him but amongst us all we could not love him enough he is the Son of the Fathers love and Gods delight the Fathers love lieth all upon him o if all mankind would fetch all their love and lay it upon him invit him and take him home to your houses in the exercise of prayer morning and evening as I often desired you especially now let him not want lodgeing in your houses nor lie in the feilds when he is shut out of pulpits and Kirks If ye will be content to take heaven by violence the wind on your face for Christ and his crosse I am here one who hath some tryall of Christs crosse I can say that Christ was ever kind to me but he overcometh himself if I may speak so in kindness vvhile I suffer for him I give you my word for it Christs crosse is not so evil as they call it it is sweet light and comfortable I would not want the visitations of love and the very breathings of Christs mouth when he kisseth and my Lords delightsome smiles and love-embracements under my sufferings for him for a mountain of fine gold nor for all the honours court and grandour of velvet-kirk-men Christ hath the yolke and heart of my love I am my beloveds and my welbeloved is mine O that ye were all handfasted to Christ o my Dearly beloved in the Lord I would I could change my voice and had a tongue tuned with the hand of my Lord and had the art of speaking of Christ that I might paint out unto you the worth and highnesse and greatnesse and excellencie of that fairest and renowned bridegroom I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord by the sighes tears heart blood of our Lord Jesus by the salvation of your poor and precious souls set up the mountain that ye and I may meet before the Lambs throne amongst the congregation of the first borne Lord grant that that may be the trysting place that ye and I may put up our hands together and pluck and eat the apples oâ— the tree of life and we may feast together and drink together of that pure river of the water of life that cometh out from under the throne of God and from the Lamb O how little is your hand-breadth and span length of dayes here your inch of time is Lesse then when ye and I parted eternitie eternitie is comeing posting on with wings then shall every mans black 's and whit's be brought to light O how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skined but heart roten apple the vain vain fecklesse world when the wormes shall make their houses in your eye holes and shall eat aâ—â— the flesh from the ball of your cheeks and shall make that body a number of drie bones think not the common gate of serving God as neighbour and others doe will bring yow to heaven few few are saved the Devils court is thick and many he haththe greatest number of mankind for his vassels I know this world is a great forrest of thornes in your way to heaven but ye most through it acquaint your selves with the Lord hold fast Christ hear his voice only blesse his name sanctifie and keep his day keep the new commandment love one another let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies and be clean and holy love not the worldly not love and follow truth learn to know God keep in mind what I taught you for God will seek ane account of it when I am far from you abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil follow good carefully and seek peace and follow after it honour your King and pray for him remember me to God in your prayers I dow not forget you I told you often while I was with you and now I write it again heavie sad and sore is that strok of the Lords wrath that is comeing upon Scotland woe woe woe to this Harlotland for they shall take the cup of Gods wrath from his hand and drink and spue and fall and net rise again In In In with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope hide you there while the anger of the Lord passe Follow not the Pastors of this Land for the sun is gone down upon them as the Lord liveth they lead you from Christ and from the good old way yet the Lord will keep the holy Citie and make this withered Kirk to bud again like a rose and a field blessed of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all The prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christs in bonds for him and for you be with you all AMEN Aberden July 14. 1637. Your Lawfull and loving Pastor S. R. To the Honourable Reverend and Welbeloved Professors of Christ his Truth in sincerity in Ireland 3 DEarly beloved in our Lord partakers of the heavenly calling Grace mercy peace be to you from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I alwayes but most of all now in my bonds most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord rejoyce to hear of your faith and love to hear that our King our welbeloved our bridegroom without tireing stayeth still to wooe you as his wife and that persecutions mockings of sinners have not chased away the wooer from the house I perswade you in the Lord the men of God now Scattered driven from you put you upon the right sent and pursuit of Christ my salvation on it if ten heavens were mine if this way this way that I now suffer for this way that the world nicknameth and reproacheth no other way be not the Kings gate to heaven I shall never see Gods face and alace I were a beguiled wretch if it were so if this be not the only saving way to heaven Oh that you would take a prisoner of Christs word for it nay I know you have the greatest Kings word for it
but cold comfort in my sufferings I would not beguile others I would have told you plainly but the truth is Christs crown his scepter and the freedom of his Kingdom is that which is now called in question because we will not allow that Christ pay tribute and be a vassall to the shields of the earth therefore the sons of our mother are angry at us but it becometh not Christ to hold any mans stirâ—up It were a sweet and honourable death to die for the honour of that royall princely King Jesus his love is a mystery to the world I would not have beleeved that there was so much in Christ as there is Come see maketh Christ to be known in his excellency glory I wish all this Nation knew how sweet his breath is it is little to see Christ in a book as men doe the world in a card they talke of Christ by the book the tongue no more but to come nigh Christ and hausse him embrace him is another thing Madam I write to your Honour for your encouragement in that honourable profession Christ hath honoured you with Ye have gotten the Sunny side of the brae the best of Christs good things he hath not given you the bastard's portion howbeit ye get strokes sowre looks from your Lord yet beleeve his love more then your own feeling for this world can take nothing from you that is truly yours death can doe you no wrong your rock doeth not ebbe flow but your sea that which Christ hath said he will bide by it he will be your tutour you shall not get your charters of heaven to play you with It is good that ye have lost your credit with Christ that Lord frâ—ewill shall not be your tutour Christ will lippen the taking of you to heaven neither to your self nor any deputy but onely to him self blessed be your tutour When your head shall appear your bridegroom Lord your day shall then dawn it shall never have an afternoon nor an evening shadow Let your childe be Christs let him stay beside you as the lords pledge that you shall willingly render again if God will Madam I finde folks here kind to me but in the night under their breath my masters cause may not come to the crown of the causey others are kind according to their fashion many think me a strange man my cause not good but I care not much for mans thoughts or approbation I think no shame of the crosse The preachers of this town pretend great love but the Prelats have added to the rest this gentle cruelty for so they think of it to discharge me of the pulpits of this town the people murmur cry out against it and to speak truly howbeit Christ is most indulgeat to me otherwise yet my silence on the Lords day keeps me from being exalted above measure froÌ„â—â—artling in the heat of my Lords love Some people affect me for the which cause I hear the preachers here purpose to have my confinement changed to another place so cold is northern love but Christ and I will bear it I have vvrestled long with this sad silence I said what aileth Christ at my service and my soul hath been at a pleading with Christ at yea nay but I will yeeld to him providing my suffering may preach more then my tongue did for I gave not Christ an inch but for twice as good again in a word I am a fool he is God I will hold my peace hereafter Let me hear from your La your Dear Childe pray for a prisoner of Christ who is mindfull of your La Remember my obliged obedience to my good Lady Marre Grace Grace be with you I write pray blessings to your sweet childe Aberd. Nov. 22. 1636. Yours in all Dutiefull obedience in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 6 MADAM GRace Mercy peace be to you I received your La letter it refreshed me in my heavinesse the blessing prayers of a prisoner of Christs come upon you Since my coming hither Galloway sent me not a line except what my Brother Earlstoun his son did write I cannot get my papers transported but Madam I want not kindnesse of one who hath the gate of it Christ if he had never done more for me since I was borne hath ingaged my heart gained my blessing in this house of my pilgrimage It pleaseth my welbeloved to dine with a poor prisoner and the Kings spiknard casteth a fragrant smell nothing grieveth me but that I eat my feasts my alone and that I cannot edifie his saints O that this Nation knew what is betwixt him and me none would skar at the crosse of Christ my silence eates me up but he hath told me he thanketh me no lesse then if I were preaching daily he sees how gladly I would be at it therefore my wages are going to the fore up in heaven as if I were still preaching Christ. Captains pay duely bedfast souldiers howbeit they dow not march nor carry armour Though â—srael be not gathered yet shall 〈◊〉 be glorious in the eyes of my Lord my lord shall be my strength Ifâ—â— 49 5. my garland The Banished Minister the teâ—ne of Aberden ashameth me not I have seen the white side of Christs crosse lovely hath he been to his oppressed servant Psal. 146 7. The Lord executeth judgement for the oppressed he giveth food to the hungry the Lord looseth the prisoner the Lord raisetâ— them that are bowed down the Lord preserveth the stranger If it were come to exchanging of crosses I would not exchange my crosse with any I am wel-pleased with Christ he with me I hope none shall hear us It 's true for all this I get my meat with many stroks and am seven times a day up down am often anxious cast down for the case of my oppressed brother yet I hope the Lord will be surty for his servant But now upon some weak very weak experience I am come to love a rumbling and raging devil beit seeing we must have a devil to hold the saints waking I wish a cumbersome devil rather then a secure sleeping one At my first coming hither I took the dorts at Christ and took up a stomaâ—k against him I said he had cast me over the dike of the vineyard like a drie tree but it was his mercy I see that the fire did not burn the drie tree now as if my Lord Jesus had done the fault not I who belied my Lord he hath made the first mends he spake not one word against me but hath come again quickned my soul with his presence nay now I think the very aâ—â—uety and casualities of the crosse of Christ Jesus my Lord these comforts that accompany it better then the worlds
his joyes my losses with his own presence I finde it a sweet rich thing to exchange my sorrows with Christs joyes my afflictions with that sweet peace I have with himself Brother this is his own truth I now suffer for he hath sealed my sufferings with his own comforts I know he will not put his seal upon blank paper his seals are not dumb nor delusive to confirm imaginations lyes Goe on my dear Brother in the strength of the Lord not fearing man that is a worm or the son of man that will die Providence hath a thousand keys to open a thousand sundry doors for the deliverance of his own when it is even come to a conclamatum est Let us be faithfull and care for our own part which is to doe suffer for him lay Christs part on himself leave it there duties are ours events are the Lord's when our faith goeth to medle with events to hold a court if I may so speak upon Gods providence and begineth to say how wilt Thou do this that we lose ground we have nothing to doe there it is our part to let the Almighty exerce his own office and stir his own helme there is nothing left to us but to see how we may be approved of him and how we may roll the weight of our weak souls in wel-doing upon him who is God Omnipotent and when what we thus essay miscarrieth it shall neither be our sin nor cross Brother remember the Lord's word to Peter Simon lovest thou me Feed my sheep no greater testimony of our love to Christ can be then to feed painfully and faithfully his lambs I am in no better neighbourhood with the Ministers here then before they cannot endure that any speak of me or to me thus I am in the mean time silent which is my greatest grief Dr Barron hath often disputed with me especially about Arminian-controversies and for the Ceremonies three yokings laid him by and I have not been troubled with him since now he hath appointed a dispute before witnesses I trust Christ and truth shall doe for themselves I hope Brother ye will help my people and write to me what ye hear the Bishop is to doe to them Grace be with you Aberd. Your Brother in bonds S. R. To Mr HUGH M C KAILL Minister of the Gospel 19 Reverend Dear Brother I bless you for your Letter he is come down as rain upon the mowen grasse he hath revived my withered root and he is as the dew of herbs I am most secure in this prison salvation is for walls in it and what think ye of these walls he maketh the dry plant to bud as the lilie and to blossome as Lebanon the great husband man's blessing cometh down upon the plants of righteousness who may say this my dear Brother if I his poor exiled stranger prisoner may not say it Howbeit all the world should be silent I cannot hold my peace O how many black counts hath Christ and I rounded over together in the house of my pilgrimage and how sat a portion hath he given to a hungry soul I had rather have Christs four-hours then have dinner and Supper both in one from any other his dealing and the way of his judgements passe finding out No preaching no book no learning could give me that which I behooved to come and get in this Town but what of all this if I were not misted confounded and astonished how to be thankfull and how to get him praised for evermore And which is more he hath been pleased to pain me with his love and my pain groweth through want of reall possession Some have written to me that I am possibly too joyfull of the cross but my joy over-leapeth the cross it is bounded and terminat upon Christ I know the sun will over-cloud eclipse and I shall again be put to walk in the shaddow but Christ must be welcome to come and goe as he thinketh meet yet he would be more welcome to me I trow to come then goe I hope he pitieth and pardoneth me in casting apples to me at such a fainting time as this holy and blessed is his name It was not my flattering of Christ that drew a kiss from his mouth but he would send me as a spie into this wilderness of suffering to see the land and to try the foord and I cannot make a lye of Christs cross I can report nothing but good both of him it lest others should faint I hope when a change cometh to cast anchor at midnight upon the rock which he hath taught me to know in this day light whether I may run when I must say my lesson without book beleeve in the dark I am sure it is sin to tarrow of Christs good meat not to eat when he saith eat O welbeloved drink abundantly If he bear me on his back or carry me in his armes over this water I hope for grace to set down both my feet on dry ground when the way is better but this is slippery ground my Lord thought good I should goe by an hold lean on my welbeloved's shoulder it 's good to be ever taking from him I desire he may get the fruit of praises for dâting and thus dandling me upon his knee I may give my bond of thankfulness sobeing I have Christ's back-bond again for my relief that I shall be strengthned by his powerfull grace to pay my vowes to him But truly I finde we have the advantage of the brae upon our enemies we are more then conquerours through him who hath loved us they know not wherein our strength lieth Pray for me grace be with you Aberd. Your Brother in Christ S. R. To my Lady Boyd 20 MADAM GRace mercy peace be unto you the Lord hath brought me to Aberd where I see God in few This town hath been advised upon of purpose for me It consisteth either of Papists or men of Gallio's naughtie faith it is counted wisdom in the most not to countenance a confined Minister but I finde Christ neither strange nor unkind for I have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither I am heavie and sad considering what is betwixt the Lord my soul which none seeth but he I finde men have mistaken me it would be no art as I now see to spin small and make hypocrisie seem a goodly web and to goe through the mercat as a saint among men yet steal quietly to hell without observation So easie is it to deceive men I have disputed whether or noe I ever knew any thing of Christianity save the letters of that name Men see but as men and they call ten twenty and twenty an hundred but O to be approved of God in the heart in sincerity is not an ordinary mercy my neglects while I had a pulpit other things whereof I am ashamed to speak meet
in the loof of their hand Cur Lord maketh delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his own but Christs love under a vaile is love if ye get Christ howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way you would have him it is enough for the wel-beloved cometh not our way he must waile his own gate himself For worldly things seeing they are medows and fair flowers in your way to heaven a smell in the by-going is sufficient he that would reckon and tell all the stones in his way in a journey of three or four hundred miles and write up in his count book all the herbs and flowers growing in his way might come short of his journey you cannot stay in your inch of time to lose your day seeing you are in haste and the night and your after-noon will not bide you in setting your heart on this vain world it were your wisdom to read your count book to have in readinâ—sâ— your bussinesse against the time you come to deaths water-side I know your lodging is taken your forerunner Christ hath not forgotten that therefore you must set your self to your one thing which ye cannot well want In that our Lord took your husband to himself I know it was that he might make room for himself he cuteth off your love to the creature that ye might learn that God onely is the right owner of your love sorrow losse sadnesse death or the worst things that are except sin but Christ knoweth well what to make of them can put his own in the crosses common that we shall be obliged to affliction thank God who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion who can hale us to Christ you must learn to make evils your great good and to spin out comforts peace joy communion with Christ out of your troubls that are Christs wooers sent to speak for you to himself It is easie to get good words and a comfortable message from our Lord even from such rough serjeants as diverse temptations Thanks to God for crosses when we count and reckon our losses in seeking God we finde godliness is great gain Great partners of a shipfull of gold are glad to see the ship come to the harbour surely we and our Lord Jesus together have a shipfull of gold coming home and our gold is in that ship Some are so in love or rather in lust with this life that they sell their part of the ship for a little thing I would counsel you to buy hope but sell it not and give not away your crosses for nothing the inside of Christs crosse is white and joyfull and the far end of the black crosse is a fair and glorious heaven of ease and seeing Christ hath fastned heaven to the far end of the crosse he will not loose the knot him self none else can for when Christ casteth a knot all the world cannot loose it let us then count it exceeding joy when we fall into diverse temptations Thus recommending you to the tender mercy grace of our Lord I rest Aberd. Your Loving Brother S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger 25 Honoured Dear Brother I Wrote of late to you multitudes of letters burden me now I am refreshed with your letter I exhort you in the bowels of Christ set to work for your soul let these bear weight with you and ponder them seriously 1. Weeping gnasâ—ing of teeth in utter-darkness or heaven's joy 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead cold blackned clay 3. there is sand in your glass yet your sun is not gone down 4. Consider what joy peace is in Christs service 5. Think what advantage it will be to have Angels the world life death crosses yea and devils all for you as the Kings serjeants and servants to doe your bussinesse 6. To have mercy on your seed a blessing on your house 7. To have true honour a name on earth that casts a sweet smell 8. How ye will rejoyce when Christ layeth down your head under his chinne betwixt his brests dryeth your face welcometh you to glory happyness 9. Imagine what pain torture is a guilty conscience What slavery to carry the Devils unhonest loads 10. Sins joyes are but night-dreames thoughts vapours imaginations and shadowes 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God 12. Dominion and mastery over tentations over the world and sin 13. That your enemies should be the taile and you the head For your bairns now at their rest I speak to you and your wife and cause her read this 1. I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven 2. For the rest I write it under my hand there are dayes coming on Scotland when barren wombs dry breasts and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed they are then in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on 3. They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christs treasury in heaven 4. At the Resurrection ye shall meet with them there they are sent beâ—ore but not sent away 5. Your Lord loveth you who is homely to take and give borrow and lend 6. Let not bairns be your Idols for God will be jealouse and take away the Idol because he is greedy of your love wholly I bless you your wife and children Grace for evermore be with you Aberd. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness elder 26 HOnourable dearest in the Lord. Your Letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together ye are my joy my crown ye know I have recommended his love to you I defie the world Satan sin His love hath neither brim nor bottome in it My dearest in Christ I write my souls desire to you heaven is not at the next door I finde Christianity an hard task set to it in your evening we would all keep both Christ our right eye our right hand foot but it will not be with us I beseech you by the mercies of God and your compearance before Christ look Christs count book and your own together and collation them give the remnant of your time to your soul this great Idol-god the world will be lying in white ashes in the day of your compearance why should night-dreames and day-shaddowes water-froth May-flowers run away with your heart when we win to the water-side and black deaths river brinke and put our foot in the boat we shall laugh at our folly Sir I recommend you unto the thoughts of death and how ye would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold blew ill-smelling clay For any hireling to be intruded I being the Kings prisoner can not say much but as Gods minister I desire you to read Act. 2 15 16. to the end Act. 6. 2 3 4 5.
one And O what a fair one what an onely one what an excellent lovely ravishing one is Jesus Put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of Paradises like the garden of Eden in one put all trees all flowers all smels all colours all tastes all joyes all sweetness all lovelyness is one O what a fair and excellent thing would that be yet it should be less to that fair dearest welbeloved Christ then one drop of rain to the whole seas rivers lakes fourtains of ten thousand earths O but Christ is heavens wonder earths wonder what marvel that his bride saith Cant 5 v. 16. He is altogether lovely Oh that black souls will not come fetch all then love to this fair one O if I could invite perswade thousands ten thousand times ten thousand of Adam's sons to flock about my Lord Jesus to come take their fill of love Oh pity for evermore that there should be such an one as Christ Jesus so boundless so bottomless so incomparable in infinite excellency sweetness and so few to take him Oh oh ye poor dry dead souls why will ye not come hither with your toom vessels your empty souls to this huge fair deep sweet well of life fill all your toom vessels Oh that Christ should be so large in sweetness worth we so narrow so pinched so ebbe so void of all happiness and yet men will not take him They lose their love miserably who will not bestow it upon this lovely one Alas these five thousand yeers Adam's fools his waster-heirs have been wasting lavishing out their love and their affections upon black lovers and black harlots upon bits of dead creatures and broken idols upon this that feckless creature have not brought their love and their heart to Jesus O pity that fairness hath so few lovers O woe woe to the fools of this world who run by Christ to other lovers Oh misery misery misery that comeliness can scarce get three or four hearts in a town or a countrey Oh that there is so much spoken so much written and so much thought of creature-vanity and so little spoken so little written so little thought of my great and incomprehensible and never-enough-wondered-at Lord Jesus Why should I not curse this forlorn and wretched world that suffereth my Lord Jesus to lie his alone O damned souls O miskenning world O blind O beggerly and poor souls O bewitched fools what aileth you at Christ that you run so from him I dare not challenge providence that there are so few buyers and so little sale for such an excellent one as Christ. O the depth and O the hight of my Lords wayes that passe finding out But oh if men would once be wise and not fall so in love with their own hell as to pass by Christ and misken him But let us come near and fill our selves with Christ and let his friends drink and be drunken and satisfie our hollow and deep desires with Jesus Oh come all and drink at this living well come drink live for ever more come drink welcome welcome saith our fairest Bridegroom no man getteth Christ with ill will no man cometh is not welcome no man cometh and rueth his voyage all men speak well of Christ who have been at him men and Angels who know him will say more then I dow doe think more of him then they can say O if I were misted and bewildered in my Lords love Oh if I were fettered chained to it O sweet pain to be pained for a sight of him O living death O good death O lovely death to die for love of Jesus Oh that I should have a sore heart a pained soul for the wanting of the love of this that idol woe woe to the mistakings of my miscarrying heart that gapeth cryeth for creatures is not pained cutted tortured in sorrow for the want of a souls-fill of Christ. Oh that thou would'st come near my Beloved O my fairest one why standest thou a far come hither that I may be satiat with thy excellent love O for an union O for a fellowship with Jesus O that I could buy with a price that lovely one suppose hells torments for a while were the price I cannot beleeve but Christ will ruâ— upon his pained lovers come ease sick hearts who sigh and swoond for the want of Christ who dow bide Christs love to be nice What heaven can there be liker to hell then to lust and grein and dwine and fall a swoon for Christs love and to want it is not this hell heaven woven thorow other Is not this pain and joy sweetness and sadness to be in one web the one the woft the other the warp Therefore I would Christ would let us meet and joyn together the soul Christ in others arms O what meeting is like this to see blackness and beauty contemptibleness and glory highness and baseness even a soul and Christ kiss one another Nay but when all is done I may be wearied in speaking and writing but O how far am I from the right expression of Christ oâ— his love I can neither speak nor write feeling nor â—alling nor smelingâ— come feel smel taste Christ his love 〈…〉 d ye shall call it more then can be spoken to write how sweet the honey-comb it is not so lovely as to eat suck the honey comb â—nd nights rest in a bed of love with Christ will say more then he 〈…〉 can think or tongue can utter Neither need we fear crosses or sigh or be sad for any thing that is on this side of heaven if we have Christ our crosses will never draw blood of the joy of the holy Ghost peace of conscience ouâ— joy iâ— laid up in such a high place as temptations cannot climb up to take it down this world may boast Christ but they dare not strike or if they strike they break their arm in fetching a stroke upon a rock O that we could put our treasure in Christ's hand give him our gold to keep our crown Stâ—ivâ— Mistress to throng thorow the thorns of this life to be at Christ â—inâ— not sight of him in this cloudy dark day Sleep with him in your heart in the night Learn not at the world to serve Christ but speir at himself the way the world is a false copy a lying guide to follow Remember my love to your husband I wish all to him I have written here The sweet presence the long lasting goodwill of our God the warmely lovely comforts of our Lord Jesus be with you Help me his prisoner in your prayers For I remember you Aberd. Agust 8. 1637. Yours iâ— his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Forreâ— 30 Worthy Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you I long
from her head and her gold waxed dim our white Nazarites are become black as the coal Blessed are they who will come out and help Christ against the mighty The shields of the earth the Nobles are debters to Christ for their honour should bring their glory and honour to the new Ierusalem Rev. 21 24. Alas that great men should be so far from subjecting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ that they burst his bonds asunder and think they dow not goe on foot when Christ is on horseback and that every nod of Christ commanding as a King is a load like a mountain of iron and therefore they say This man shall not reign over us we must have another King then Christ in his own house Therefore kneel to Christ and kiss the Son and let him have your Lo vote as your alone Law-giver I am sure when you leave this old waste Jâ—nes of this perishing life and shall reckon with your hoste depart hence and take shipping make over for eternity which is the yonder side oâ— time a sand-glass of threescore short yeers is running out To look over your shoulder then to that which ye have done spoken suffered for Christ his dear bride that he ransomed with that blood which is more precious then gold for truth the freedom of Christ's Kingdom your accounts shall more sweetly smile laugh upon you then if you had two world's of gold to leave to your posterity O my dear Lord consider that our Master eternity judgement the last reckoning will be upon us in the twinckling of an eye The blast of the last trumpet now hard at hand will cry down all Acts of Parliaments all the determinations of pretended Assemblies against Christ our Law-giver There will be shortly a proclamation by one standing in the clouds that time shall be no more and that court with Kings of clay shall be no more prisons confinements forfeiturs of Nobles wrath of Kings hazard of lands houses name for Christ shall be no more This world's span-length of time is drawn now to less then half an inch and to the point of the evening of the day of this old and gray-haired world And therefore be fixed fast for Christ his truth for a time fear not him whose life goeth out at his nostrils who shall die as a man I am perswaded Christ is responsall and law-biding to make recompence for any thing that is hazardeâ— or given out for him losses for Christ are but our goods given out in bank in Christs hand Kings earthly are well-favoured little clay gods and tim's-idol but a sight of our invisible King shall decry and darken all the glory of this world At the day of Christ truth shall be truth and not treason Alas it is pitiful that silence when the thatch of our Lord's house hath taken fire is now the flower and the bloom of court and state-wisdom And to cast a covering over a good profession as if it blushed at light is thought a canny and sure way through this life But the safest way I am perswaded is to tine win with Christ to hazard fairly for him for heaven is but a company of Noble venturers for Christ. I dare hazard my soul Christ shall grow green and blossom as the rose of Sharon yet in Scotland howbeit now his leaf seemeth to wither and his root to dry up Your noble Ancestors have been inrolled amongst the worthies of this nation as the sure friends of the bridegroom and valiant for Christ I hope ye will follow on to come to the streets for the same Lord the world is still at yea nay with Christ it shall be your glory the sure foundation of your house now when houses are tumbling down birds building their nests thorns briers are growing up where Nobles did spread a table if you engage your estate nobility for this noble King Jesus with whom the created Powers of the world are still in tops all the world shall fall before him as God liveth every arm lifted up to take the crown off his royal head or that refuseth to hold it upon his head shall be broken from the shoulder-blad the eyes that behold Christ weep in sackcloth wallow in his blood will not help even these eyes shall rot away in their eye-holes O if ye the Nobles of this land saw the beauty of that worlds wonder Jesus our King the glory of him who is Angels wonder heavens wonder for excellency Oh what would men count of clay-estates of time-eaten life of worm-eaten moth-eaten worldly glory in comparison of that fairest fairest of Gods creation the son of the father's delights I have but small experience of suffering for him but let my Judge witness in heaven lay my soul in the ballance of justice if I finde not a young heaven a little Paradise of glorious comforts soul-delighting love-kisses of Christ here beneath the moon in suffering for him his truth that glory joy peace fire of love I thought had been kept while supper time when we shall get leisure to feast our fill upon Christ I have felt it in glorious beginnings in my bonds for this princely Lord Jesus Oh it is my sorrow my daily pain that men will not come see I would now be ashamed to beleeve that it should be possible for any soul to think that he could be a loser for Christ suppose he should lend Christ the Lordship of Lindsay or some such great worldly estate Therefore my worthy Dear Lord set your face against the opposits of Jesus let your soul take courage to come under his banner to appeare as his souldier for him the blessings of a falling Kirk the prayers of the prisoners of hope who wait for Sions joy the good will of him that dwelt in the bush it burned not shall be with you To his saving Grace I recommend your Lo your House am still Christs prisoner Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo obliged servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord Boyd 39 My very honourable good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that ye in the morning of your short day minde Christ that ye love the honour of his crown Kingdom I beseech your Lo begin now to frame your love to cast it in no mould but one that it may be for Christ onely For when your love is now in the framing making it will take best with Christ if any other then Jesus get a grip of it when it is green young Christ will be an uncouth strange world to you Promise the lodging of your soul first away to Christ stand by your first covenant keep to Jesus that he may finde you honest It is easie to master an arrow
prophet speaketh for the Lord his truth To his rich grace sweet presence the everlasting consolation of the promised comforter I recomend your Lo am Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady Boyd 40. My Very Honourable Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter am well pleased that your thoughts of Christ stay with you that your purpose still is by all means to take the Kingdom of heaven by Violence which is no small conquest and it is a degree of watchfulness thankfulness also to observe sleepiness unthankfulness we have all good cause to complain of false light that playeth the thief stealeth away the lantern when it cometh to the practice of constant walking with God our journey is ten times a day broken in ten pieces Christ getteth but onely broken halfed and tired work of us alas too often against the hair I have been some what neerer the bridegroom but when I draw nigh see my vileness for shame I would be out of his presence again but yet desire of his soul-refreshing love puteth blushing-me under an arrest O what am I so loathsom a burden of sin to stand beside such a beautifull holy Lord such an high lofty one who inhabiteth eternity but since it pleaseth Christ to condescend to such an one as me let shamefaâ—â—eness be laid aside lose it self in his condescending love I would heartily be content to keep a corner of the Kings hall Oh if I were at the yonder end of my weak desires then should I be where Christ my Lord lover lives reigns there I should be overlastingly solaced with the sight of his face satisfied with the surpassing sweetness of his matchless love But truly now I stand in the nether side of my desires with a drowping head panting heart I look up to fair Jesus standing a far off from us while corruption death shall scour refine the body of clay rot out the bones of the old man of sin In the mean time we are blessed in sending word to the beloved that we love to love him and till then there is joy in wooing suiting lying about his house looking in at the windows sending a poor souls groans wishes thorow a hole of the door to Jesus till God send a glad meeting And blessed be God that after a low-ebbe so sad a word Lord Iesus it is long since I saw thee That even then our wings are growing the absence of sweet Jesus breedeth a new fleece of desires longings for him I know no man hath a velvet cross but the cross is made of that which God will have it But verily howbeit it be no warrantable market to buy a cross yet I dare not say O that I had liberty to sell Christs cross lest therewith also I should sell joy comfort sense of love patience the kind visits of a bridegroom And therefore blessed be God we get crosses unbought good cheap Sâ—â—â— I am it were better to buy crosses for Christ then to sell them howbeit neither be allowed to us And for Christ's joyfull coming going which your La speaketh of I bear with it as love can permit it should be enough to me if I were wise that Christ will have joy sorrow halfers of the life of the saints and that each of them should have a share of our dayes as the night and the day are kindly partners and halfers of Time and take it up betwixt them But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our dayes here I know joy's day shall dawn doe more then recompense all our sad hours Let my Lord Jesus since he will doe so weave my bit and span-length of time with white black well and woe with the bridgroom's coming and his sad departure as warp woof in one web let the rose be neighboured with the thorn yet hope that maketh not ashamed hath written a letter and lines of hope to the mourners in Zion that it shall not be long so when we are over the water Christ shall cry down crosses and up heaven for evermore down hell down death down sin down sorrow up glory up life up joy for evermore In this hope I sleep quietly in Christ's bosome while he come who is not slack would sleep so were it not that the noise of the devil Sin 's feet the cryes of an unbeleeving heart awaken me but for the present I have nothing whereof I can accuse Christ's cross Oh if I could please my self in Christ onely I hope Madam your Sons will improve their power for Jesus for there is no danger neither is there any question or justling betwixt Christ Authority though our enemies falsly state the question as if Christ and Authority could not abide under one roof the question onely is betwixt Christ and men in Authority Authority is for from Christ sib to him how then can he make a plea with it Nay the truth is wormes Gods of clay are risen up against Christ. If the fruit of your La Womb be helpers of Christ ye have good ground to rejoyce in God All your La can expect for your goodwill to me my Brother a wronged stranger for Christ is the prayers of a prisoner of Iesus to whom I recommend your La house children in whom I am Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. MADAM Your 〈◊〉 in Christ. S. R. To the Lady Culross 41 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I dare not say I wonder that ye have never written to me in my bonds because I am not ignorant of the cause yet I could not but write to you I know not whether joy or heaviness in my soul carrieth it away sorrow without any mixture of sweetness hath not often love-thoughts of Christ but I see the devil can insinuat himself ride his errands upon the thoughts of a poor oppressed prisoner I am woe that I am making Christ my unfriend by seeking pleas against him because I am the first in the Kingdom put to utter silence because I cannot preach my Lord's righteousness in the great congregation I am notwithstanding the less solicitous how it goe if there be not wrath in my cup. But I know I but claw my wounds when my physician hath forbidden me I would beleeve in the dark upon luck's head take my hazard of Christ's goodwill rest on this that in my fever my Physician is at my bed-side that he sympathizeth with me when I sigh My borrowed house another man's bed fire-side other losses have to room in my sorrow a greater heat to eat out a less fire is a good remedie for some burning I beleeve when Christ draweth blood he hath skill to cut the right veine that he hath taken
crave my minde whether found comfort may be found in prayer when conviction of a known idol is present I answer an idol as an idol can not stand with found comfort for that comfort that is gotten at Dagon's sect is a cheat or blea-flumme yet sound comfort conviction of an eye to an idol may as well dwell together as tears joy But let this doe you no ill I speak it for your encouragement that ye may make the best out of your joyes ye can albeit ye finde them mixed with motes 2. Sole conviction if alone without remorse and grief is not enough therefore lend it a tear if ye dow win at it 7. Ye question when ye win to more fervency sometimes with your neighbour in prayer then your alone whether hypocrisie be in it or not I answer if this be alwayes no question a spice of hypocrisie in in it which would be taken head to out possibly desertion may be in privat presence in publike then the case is clear 2. A fit of applause may occasion by accident a rubbing of a cold heart so heat life may come but it is not the proper cause of that heat hence God of his free grace will ride his errands upon our stinking corruption but corruption is but a meer occasion accident as the playing on a pipe removed anger from the prophet made him fitter to prophesie 2. King 3 v. 15. 8. Ye complain of Christ's short visits that he will not bear you company one night but when ye lie down warm at night ye rise cold at morning Ans. I cannot blame you nor any other who knoweth that sweet guest to bemoan his withdrawings to be most desirous of his abode company for he would captivat engage the affection of any creature that saw his face since he looked on me gave me a sight of his fair love he gained my heart wholly got away with it Well well may he brook it he shall keep it long ere I fetch it from him But I shall tell you what ye shall doe treat him well give him the chair the board-head make him welcome to the mean portion ye have a good supper kind entertainment maketh the guest love the innes the better Yet sometimes Christ hath an errand elsewhere for meer trial then though ye give him king's-chear he will away as is clear in desertions for meer trial not for sin 9. Ye seek the difference betwixt the motions of the Spirit in their least measure the natural joyes of your own heart Ans. as a man can tell if he joy delight in his wife as his wife or if he delight joy in her for satisfaction of his lust but hating her person so loving her for her her flesh not grieving when ill befalleth her so will a man's joy in God and his who â—ish naturall joy be discovered if he sorrow for any thing that may offend that Lord it will speak the singleness of his love to him 10. Ye aske the reason why sense overcometh faith Ans. because sense is more naturall neer of kin to our own selfish soft nature Ye aske if faith in that ease be found Ans If it be chased away it is neither sound nor unsound because it is not faith but it might be was faith before sense did blow out the act of beleeving Lastly ye aske what to doe when promises are born in upon you sense of impenitency for sins of youth hindereth application I answer if it be living sense it may stand with application in this case put to your hand eat your meat in God's name if false so that the sins of youth are not repented of then as faith impenitency cannot stand together so neither that sense application can consist Brother excuse my brevity for time straitneth me that I get not my minde said in these things but must refer that to a new occasion if God offer it Brother Pray for me Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr now in Ireland 51 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you being now removed from my flock the prisoner of Christ at Aberd I would not have you to think it strange that your journey to New-England hath gotten such a dash It indeed hath made my heart heavie yet I know it is no dumb providence but a speaking one whereby our Lord speaketh his minde to you though for the present ye doe not well understand what he saith however it be he who sitteth upon the floods hath showen you his marvellous kindness in the great depths I know your loss is great your hope is gone far against you But I entreat you Sir expound aright our Lord 's laying an hinderance is the way I perswade my self your heart aimeth at the footsteps of the flock to feed beside the shepherds tents to dwell beside him whom your soul loveth that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness where the woman is kept from the Dragon this being your desire remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said it to you that That miscarried journey is with childe to you of mercy consolation and shall bring forth a fair birth and the Lord shall be midwife to the birth wait on he that beleeveth maketh not haste Isa 28. 16. I hope ye have been asking what the Lord meaneth what further may be his will in reference to your return my dear Brother let God make of you what he will he will end all with consolation shall make glory out of your sufferings would ye wish better work this water was in your way to heaven written in your Lord's book ye behooved to cross it therefore kisse his wise unerring providence Let not the censures of men who see but the out side of things scarce well that abate your courage rejoycing in the Lord howbâ—it your faith seeth but the black side of providence yet it hath a better side God shall let you see it Learn to beleeve Christ better then his strokes himself his promises better then his gloomes dashes disappointments are not Canonick scripture fighting for the promised land seemed to cry to God's promise thoulyest If our Lord rideupon a straw his horse shall neither stumble nor fall Rom. 8. 28. For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God Ergo shipwrak losses c work together for the good of them that love God Hence I inferre that losses disappointments ill tongues losse of friends houses or countrey are God's work men set on work to work out good to you out of every thing that befalleth you let not the Lord's dealing seem harsh rough ot unfatherly because it is unpleasant when the Lord
Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ I see he is Jealouse of my love will have all to himself In a word these six things are my burden 1. I am not in the vineyard as others are it may be because Christ thinketh me a withered tree not worthy it's room but God forbid 2. Woe woe woe is coming upon my harlot-mother this Apostat-kirk the time is coming when we shall wish for doves wings to flee and hide us Oh for the desolation of this land 3. I see my dear master Christ going his alone as it were mourning in sackeloth his fainting friends fear that King Jesus shall lose the field but he must carry the day 4. My guiltiness and the sins of my youth are come up against me and they would come in the plea in my sufferings as deserving causes in God's justice but I pray God for Christ's sake he never give them that room woe 's me that I cannot get my Royall dreadfull mighty glorious Prince of the Kings of the earth set on high Sir ye may help me pity me in this and bow your knee blesse his name desire others to doe it that he hath been pleased in my sufferings to make Atheists Papists enemies about me say It is like God is with this prisoner Let hell the powers of hell I care not be let loose against me to doe their worst so being Christ my Father his Father be magnified in my sufferings 6. Christ's love hath pained me for howbeit his presence hath shamed me and drowned me in debt yet he often goeth away when my love to him is burning he seemeth to look like a proud wooer who will not look upon a poor match who is dying of love I will not say he is lordly but I know he is wise in hiding himself from a childe a fool who maketh an idol a God of one of Christ's kisses which is Idolatry I fear I adore his comforts more then himself and that I love the apples of life better then the tree of life Sir write to me Commend me to your wife mercy be her portion Grace be with you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr. 53 Worthy and dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I was refreshed comforted with your letter what I wrote to you for your comfort I doe not remember but I beleeve love will prophesie home-ward as it would have it I wish I could help you to praise his great and holy name who keepeth the feet of his saints hath numbred all your goings I know our dearest Lord will pardon passe by our honest errours mistakes when we minde his honour yet I know none of you have seen the other half the hidden side of your wonderfull return home to us again I am confident ye shall yet say that God's mercy blew your sailes back to Ireland again Worthy dear Sir I cannot but give you an account of my present state that ye may goe an errand for me to my high royall master of whom I boast all the day I am as proud of his love nay I blesse my self boast more of my present lot as any poor man can be of an earthly Kings court or of a Kingdom First I am very often turning both the sides of my cross especially my dumb silent Sabbaths not because I desire to finde a crook or defect in my Lord's love but because love is sick with phansies fears whether or not the Lord hath a processe leading against my guiltiness that I have not yet well seen I know not my desire is to ride fair not to spark dirt if with reverence of him I may be permitted to make use of such a word in the face of my onely onely welbeloved but fear of guiltness iâ— a tale-bearer betwixt me Christ is still whispering ill tales of my Lord to weaken my faith I had rather a cloud went over my comforts by these messages then that my faith should be hurt for if my Lord get no wrong by me verily I desire grace not to care what become of me I desire to give no faith nor credit to my sorrow that can make a lye of my best friend Christ. Woe woe be to them all who speak ill of Christ. Hence these thoughts awake with me in the morning goe to bed with me Oh what service can a dumb body doe in Christ's house Oh I think the word of God is imprisoned also Oh I am a dry tree Alas I can neither plant nor water Oh if my Lord would make but dung of me to fatten and make fertile his own corn-ridges in mount Sion Oh if I might but speak to three or four herd-boyes of my worthy master I would be satisfied to be the meanest and most obscure of all the Pastors in this land to live in any place in any of Christ's basest out-housâ—s but he saith Sirra I â—ill not send you I have no errands for you there away My desire to serve him is sick of jealousie lest he be unwilling to employ me Secondly this is seconded with another Oh all that I have done in Anwoth the fair work that my Master began there is like a bird dying in the shell what will I then have to show of all my labour in the day of my compearance before him when the Master of the vineyard calleth the labourers giveth them their hire Thirdly but truly when Christ's sweet wind is in the right airth I repent I pray Christ to take law-borrows of my quarrelous unbeleeving sadness sorrow Lord rebuke them that put ill betwixt a poor servant like me his good master then I say whether the black cross will or not I must climb hands feet up to my Lord. I am now ruing from my heart that I pleasure the law my old dead husband so far as to apprehend wrath in my sweet Lord Jesus I had far rather take an hire to plead for the grace of God for I think my self Christ's sworn debter the truth is to speak of my Lord what I cannot deny I am over head ears drowned in many obligations to his love mercy he handleth me sometimes so that I am ashamed almost to seek more for a four-hours but to live content till the marriage-supper of the Lamb with that which he giveth but I know not how greedy how ill to please love is for either my Lord Jesus hath taught me ill manners not to be content of a seat except my head lie in his bosom except I be fed with the fattest of his house or else I am grown impatiently dainty ill to please as if Christ were obliged under this cross to doe no other thing but bear me in his armes
vessel again to bear Christ's name to the world I am sure that love bottomed seated upon the faith of his love to me would desire endure this would even claim thriep kindness upon Christ's strokes kiss his lovely glooms both spell read salvation upon the wounds made by Christ's sweet hands Oh that I had but a promise from the mouth of Christ of his love to me then howbeit my faith were as tender as paper I think longing dwining griening of sick desires would cause it bide out the siege till the Lord came to fill the soul with his love I know also in that case faith should abide green sappy at the root even at mid winter and stand out against all stormes However it be I know Christ winneth heaven in dispite of hell But I ow as many praises thanks to free grace as would lie betwixt me the utmost border of the highest heaven suppose ten thousand heavens were all laid above other But oh I have nothing that can hire or bud grace for if grace would take hire it were no more grace but all our stability the strength of our salvation is anchored fastened upon free grace and I am sure Christ hath by his death blood casten the knot so fast that the fingers of devils hel-fuls of sins cannot loose it that bond of Christ that never yet was nor never shall nor can be registrated standeth surer then heaven or the dayes of heaven as that sweet pillar of the covenant whereupon we all hang Christ and all his little ones under his two wings in the compasse or circle of his arms is so sure that cast him and them in the ground of the sea he shall come up again not loose one An odde one cannot nor shall not be lost in the telling This was alwayes God's aime since Christ came in the play betwixt him us to make men dependent creatures and in the work of our salvation to put created strength arms legs of clay quit out of play out of office court now God hath substituted in our room accepted his Son the mediator for us all that we can make If this had not been I would have skinked over foregone my part of paradise salvation for a break-fast of dead moth-eaten earth but now I would not give it nor let it go for more then I can tell truly they are silly fools and ignorant of Christ's worth so full ill trained and tutoured who tell heaven Christ over the board for two feathers or two straws of the devil's painted pleasures onely lustred in the utter side This is our happiness now that our reckonings at night when eternity shall come upon us cannot be told we shall be so far gainers so far from being super expended as the poor fools of this world are who give out their money get in but black hunger that Angels cannot lay our counts nor summe our advantage in-comes Who knoweth how far is it to the bottom of our Christ to the ground of our heaven Who ever weighed Christ in a pair of ballances Who hath seen the foldings plyes and the heights and depths of that glory which is in him and kept for us Oh for such a heaven as to stand afar off and see love and long for him while time 's threed be cut and this great work of creation dissolved at the coming of our Lord Now to his Grace I recommend you I beseech you also pray for a re-entry to me into the Lord's house if it be his good will Aberd. Jan. 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ELIZABETH KENNEDY 90 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be unto you I have long had a purpose of writing to you but I have been hindred I heartily desire that ye would minde your journey consider to what airth your soul setteth it's face for all come not home at night who suppose they have set their face heaven-ward it is a woefull thing to die misse heaven to lose house-room with Christ at night It is an evil journey where travellers are benighted in the fields I perswade my self that thousands shall be deceived ashamed of their hope because they cast their anchor in sinking sands they must lose it Till now I knew not the pain labour nor difficulty that there is to win home nor did I understand so well before this what that meaneth The righteous shall scarcely be saved Oh how many a poor Professor's candle is blowen out never lighted again I see ordinary profession to be ranked amongst the children of God to have a name among men is now thought good enough to carry professors to heaven but certainly a name is but a name will never bide a blast of God's storm I counsell you not to give your soul or Christ rest nor your eyes sleep till ye have gotten something that will bide the fire stand out the storm I am sure if my one foot were in heaven then he would say fend thy self I will hold my grips of thee no longer I should goe no further but presently fall down in as many Pieces of dead nature They are happy for evermore who are over head ears in the love of Christ know no sickness but love-sickness for Christ feel no pain but the pain of an absent hidden welbeloved We run our souls out of breath tire them in coursing galloping after our own night-dreams such are the rovings of our miscarrying hearts to get some created good thing in this life on this side of death We would fain slay spin out a heaven to our solves in this side of the water but sorrow want changes crosses sin are both woof warp in that ill-spun web O how sweet dear are these thoughts that are still upon the things which are above how happy are they who are longing to have little sand in their glass to have time's threed cut can cry to Christ Lord Iesus have over come fetch the driry passenger I wish our thoughts were more frequently then they are on our countrey O but heaven casteth a sweet smell afar off to these who have spirituall smelling God hath made many fair flowers but the fairest of them all is heaven the flower of all flowers is Christ. O why doe we not flee up to that lovely one Alas that there is such scarcity of love lovers of Christ amongst us all Fy fy upon us who love fair things as fair gold fair houses fair lands fair pleasures fair honours fair persons and doe not pine melt away with love for Christ. O would to God I had more love for his sake O for as much love as would lie betwixt me heaven for his sake O for as much love
Reverend Dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON 92 Reverend dearest Brother WHat joy have I out of heaven's gates but that my Lord Jesus be glorified in my bonds Blessed be ye of the Lord who contribut any thing to my obliged indebted praises dear Brother help me a poor dyvour to pay the interest for I cannot come nigh to render the principall It is not jest nor sport which maketh me to speak write as I doe I never before came to that nick or pitch of a communion with Christ that I have now attained unto for my confirmation I have been these two Sabbaths or three in privat taking instruments in the name of God that my Lord Jesus I have kissed each other in Aberden the house of my pilgrimage I seek not an apple to play me with he knoweth whom I serve in the spirit but a seal I but beg earnest am content to suspend frist glory while supper time I know this world will not last with me for my moon-light is noon-day light my four-hours above my feasts when I was a preacher at which times also I was embraced very often in his armes But who can blame Christ to take me on behinde him if I may say so on his white horse or in his chariot paved with love through a water Will not a father take his little dated Davie in his armes carry him over a ditch or a mire my short legs could not step over this laire or sinking mire therefore my L Jesus will bear me thorow If a change come a dark day so being that he will keep my faith without flaw or crack I dare not blame him howbeit I get no more while I come to heaven But ye know the physick behooved to have sugar my faith was fallen a swoon and Christ but held up a swooning man's head Indeed I pray not for a Dâted Bairn's diet he knoweth I would have Christ sowre or sweet any way sobeing it be Christ indeed I stand not now upon paired apples or sugared dishes but I cannot blame him to give I must gape and make a wide mouth since Christ will not pantry-up joyes he must be welcome who will not bide away I seek no other fruit but that he may be glorified he knoweth I would take hard fare to have his name set on high I bless you for your counsel I hope to live by faith and swim without a masse or bundle of joyfull sense under my chinne at lest to venture albeit I should be ducked Now for my case I think the Councel should be essayed and the event referred to God Duties are ours and events are God's I shall goe through yours upon the Covenant at leisure write to you my minde thereanent anent the Arminian Contract betwixt the father the son I beseech you set to to goe through scripture yours on the Hebrews is in great request with all who would be acquaint with Christ's Testament I purpose God willing to set about Hosea to try if I can get it to the presse here It refresheth me much that ye are so kind to my brother I hope your counsel shall doe him good I recommend him to you since I am so far from him I am glad that the dying servant of God famous and faithfull Mr Cuninghame sealed your ministry before he fell asleep Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Much honoured WILLIAM RIGGE of Athernie 93 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I received your long-looked-for short letter I would ye had spoken more to me who stand in need I finde Christ as ve write ay the longer the better therefore cannot but rejoyce in his salvation who hath made my chains my wings hath made me a King over my crosses over my adversaries glory glory glory to his high high holy name Not one ounce not one grain-weight more is laid on me then he hath enabled me to bear And I am not so much wearied to suffer as Sion's haters are to persecute Oh if I could finde a way in any measure to strive to be even with Christ's love but that I must give over Oh who would help a dyvour to pay praises to the King of saints who triumpheth in his weak servants I see if Christ but ride upon a worm or a feather his horse will neither stumble nor fall The worm Jacob is made by him a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth to thresh the mountains beat them small to make the hills as chaff to fan them so as the wind shall carry them away the whirlwind shall scatter them Isa. 41 14 15 16. Christ's enemies are but breaking their own heads in pieces upon the rock laid in Zion the stone is not removed out of it's place Faith hath cause to take courage from our very afflictions the devil is but a whet-stone to sharpen the faith patience of the saints I know he but heweth polisheth stones all this time for the new Jerusalem But in all this three things have much moved me since it hath pleased my Lord to turn my moon light into day-light First he hath yoked me to work to wrestle with Christ's love of longing wherewith I am sick pained fainting like to die because I cannot get himself which I think a strange sort of desertion for I have not himself whom if I had my love-sickness would coole my fever goe away at least I should know the heat of the fire of complacencie which would coole the scorching heat of the fire of desire yet I have no penurie of his love so I dwin I die he seemeth not to rue on me I take instruments in his hand that I would have him but I cannot get him my best chear is black hunger I blesse him for that feast Secondly old challenges now then revive cast all down I goe halting sighing fearing there be an unseen processe yet coming out that heavier then I can answer I cannot read distinctly my Surtie's act of cautionrie for me in particular my discharge sense rather then faith assureth me of what I have So unable am I to goe but by an hold I could with reverence of my Lord forgive Christ if he would give me as much faith as I have hunger for him I hope the pardon is now obtained but the peace is not so sure to me as I would wish Yet one thing I know there is not a way to heaven but the way he hath graced me to professe suffer for Thirdly woe woe is me for the virgin daughter of Scotland and for the fearfull desolation wrath appointed for this land And yet all are sleeping eating and drinking laughing and sporting as if all were well Oh our dim gold our dumb blinde pastors the sun is gone down upon
Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your Brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady ROBERTLAND 105. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I shall be glad to hear that your soul prospereth that fruit groweth upon you after the Lord's husbandry pains in his rod that hath not been a stranger to you from your youth It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire Who knoweth how needfull winnowing is to us what dross we must want ere we enter into the Kingdom of God So narrow is the entry to heaven that our knots our bunches lumps of pride and self-love idol-love world-love must be hammered off us that we may throng in stooping low creeping thorow that narrow thorny entry And now for my self I finde it the most sweet heavenly life to take up house dwelling at Christ's fire-side set down my tent upon Christ that foundation-stone who is sure faithfull ground hard under foot Oh if I could win to it proclaim my self not the world's debter nor a lover obliged to it that I minde not to hire or bud this world's love any longer but defie the kindness feud of God's whole creation whatsomever especially the lower vault clay part of God's creatures this vain earth For what hold I of his world A borrowed lodging some years house-room bread water fire bed candle c. are all a part of the pension of my King Lord to whom I ow thanks not to a creature I thank God that God is God Christ is Christ the earth the earth the Devil the devil and the world the world that sin is sin and that every thing is what it is Because he hath taught me in my wilderness not to shuffle my Lord Jesus nor to intermix him with creature-vanities nor to spin or twine Christ or his sweet love in one web or in one threed with the world and the things thereof Oh if I could hold and keep Christ all alone and mix him with nothing O if I could cry down the price and weight of my cursed self and cry up the price of Christ and double triple and augment and heighten to millions the price worth of Christ I am if I durst speak so might lawfully complain so hungredly tutoured by Christ Jesus my liberall Lord that his nice love which my soul would be in hands with flyeth me yet I am trained on to love him lust long die for his love whom I cannot see it is a wonder to pine away with love for a covered hid lover to be hungred with his love so as a poor soul cannot get his fill of hunger for Christ It is hard to be hungered of hunger whereof such abundance for other things is in the world But sure if we were tutours and stewards and Masters and Lordcarvers of Christ's love we should be more lean worse fed then we are Our meat doeth us the more good that Christ keepeth the keys that the wind the air of Christ's sweet breathing of the influence of his spirit is locked up in the hands of the good pleasure of him who bloweth where he listeth I see there is a sort of impatient patience required in the want of Christ as to his manifestations waiting on They thrive who wait on his love the blowing of it the turning of his gracious wind they thrive who in that on-waiting make haste and din and much adoe for their lost and hidden Lord Jesus However it be God feed me with him any way If he would come in I shall not dispute the matter where he got a hole or how he opened the lock I should be content that Christ and I met suppose he should stand on the other side of hell's lake and cry to me Either put in your foot come through else ye shall not have me at all But what fools are we in the taking up of him and of his dealing He hath a gate of his own beyond the thoughts of men that no foot hath skill to follow him But we are still ill Scholars and will goe in at heavens gates wanting the half of our lesson and shall still be bairns so long as we are under time's hands and till eternity cause a sun to arise in our souls that shall give us wit We may see how we spill and maâ— our own fair heaven and our salvation and how Christ is every day putting in one bone or other in these fallen souls of ours in the right place again and that in this side of the new Ierusalem we shall still have need of forgiving and healing grace I finde crosses Christ's carved work that he marketh out for us and that with crosses he figureth pourtraieth us to his own image cutting away pieces of our ill corruption Lord cut Lord carve Lord wound Lord doe any thing that may perfect thy Father's image in us make us meet for glory Pray for me I forget not you that our Lord would be pleased to lend me house-room to preach his righteousness tell what I have heard seen of him Forget not Zion that is now in Christ's calmes in his forge God bring her out new work Grace grace be with you Aberd. Jan. 4. 1638. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Earle of Cassills 106 Right honourable my very good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to your Lo I hope your Lo Will be pleased to pardon my boldness if upon report of your zealous forward minde that I hear our Lord hath given you in this his honourable cause when Christ his Gospel are so foully wronged I speak to your Lo in paper entreating your Lo to goe on in the strength of the Lord toward and against a storm of Antichristian wind that bloweth upon the face of this your poor mother-Church Christ's lilie amongst the thorns It is your Lo Glory happiness when ye see such a blow coming upon Christ to cast up your arm to prevent it Neither is it a cause that needeth to blush before the sun or to flee the sentence or censure of impartial beholders seeing the Question indeed if it were rightly stated is about the Prerogative royal of our princely royal law-giver our Lord Jesus whose ancient march-stones land-bounds our bastard Lord's the earthly generation of tyrannizing Prelats have boldly shamefully removed they who have but-half an eye may see that it is the greedy desires of Demas's and the itching scab of ambitous and climbing Diotrephes's who love the goat's life to climb till they cannot finde a way to set their soles on ground again that hath made such a wide breach in our Zion's beautifull walls and these are the men who seek no hire for the crucifying of
Christ but his coat Oh how forlorn desolate is the Bride of Christ made to all passers by Who seeth not Christ buried in this land his prophets hidden in caves silenced banished imprisoned Truth weeping in sackcloth before the Judges Parliament the Rulers of the land But her bill is cast by them Holiness hideth it self fearing the streets for the reporoaches persecution of men Justice is fallen a swoon in the gate the long shadows of the evening are stretched out upon us Woe woe to us for our day flyeth away what remaineth but that the Antichrist set down his tent in the midst of us except your Lo others with you read Christ's supplication give him that which the most lewd and scandalous wretches in this land may have before a judge even the poor man's due law and justice for God's sake O therefore my noble dear Lord as ye have begun goe on in the mighty power and strength of the Lord to cause our Lord in his Gospel and afflicted members laugh to cause the Christian Churches whose eyes are all now upon you to sing for joy when Scotland's moon shall shine like the light of the sun the sun like the light of seven dayes in one ye can doe noless then run bear up the head of your dying swooning mother-Church plead for the production of her ancient charters They hold out and put out they hold in and bring in at their pleasure men in God's house they stole the keys from Christ and his Church and came in like the thief the robber not by the door Christ now their song is Authority Authority obedience to Church-Governours When such a bastard lawless pretended step-dame as our prelacy is gone mad it is your place who are the Nobles to rise binde them at least law should fetter such wilde bulls as they are who push all who oppose themselves to their domination Alas What have we lost since Prelats were made Master coiners to change our gold in brass and to mix the Lord's wine with their water Blessed for ever shall ye be of the Lord if ye help Christ against the mighty and shall deliver the flock of God scattered upon the mountains in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of these idol-shepherds Fear not men that shall be moth-eaten-clay that shall be rolled up in a chest casten under the earth Let the holy one of Israel be your fear be couragious for the Lord and his truth Remember your accounts coming upon you with wings as fast as time posteth away Remember what peace with God in Christ the presence of the Son of God in the revealed felt sweetness of his love will be to you when eternity shall put time to the door ye shall take good-night at Time this little shepherd's tent of clay this Innes of a borrowed earth I hope your Lo is now then sending out thoughts to view this world's naughtiness vanity the hoped-for glory of the life to come that ye resolve that Christ shall have your self all yours at command for him his honour Gospel Thus trusting your Lo Will pardon my boldness I pray that the onely wise God the very God of peace may preserve strengthen establish you to the end Aberd. 1637. Your Lo at all command obedience in Chrst. S. R. To the Lady ROVVALAND 107 MADAM THough not acquainted I am bold in Christ to speak to vour La in paper I rejoyce in our Lord Jesus on your behalf that it hath pleased him whose love to you is as old as himself to manifest the savour of his love in Christ Jesus to your soul in the revelation of his will minde to you now when so many are shut up in unbelief O the sweet change ye have made in leaving the black kingdom of this world sin coming over to our bridegroom 's new kingdom to know to be taken with the love of the beautifull Son of God I beseech you Madam in the Lord make now sure work see that the old house be casten down razed from the foundation and that the new building of your soul be of Christ's own laying for then wind and storm shall neither loose it nor shake it asunder Many now take Christ by guess Be sure that it be he and onely he whom ye have met with His sweet smell his lovely voyce his fair face his sweet working in the soul will not lye they will soon tell if it be Christ indeed I think your love to the saints speaketh that it is he therefore I say be sure that ye take Christ himself take him with his father's blessing his father alloweth him well upon you your lines are well fallen it could not have been better nor so well with you if they had not fallen in these places In heaven or out of heaven there is nothing better nothing so sweet excellent as the thing ye have lighted on therefore hold you with Christ Joy much joy may ye have of him But take his cross with himself cheerfully Christ and his cross are not separable in this life howbeit Christ his cross part at heaven's door for there is no house-room for crosses in heaven one tear one sigh one sad heart one fear one losse or thought of trouble cannot finde lodging there they are but the markes of our Lord Jesus down in this wide innes stormy countrey on this side of death Sorrow the saints are not married together of suppose it were so heaven shall make a divorce I finde his sweet presence eateth out the bitterness of sorrow suffering I think it a sweet thing that Christ saith of my cross Halfmine that he divideth these sufferings with me taketh the largest share to himself nay that I my whole cross are wholly Christ's O what a portion is Christ O that the saints would dig deeper in the treasures of his wisdom excellency Thus recommending your La to the goodwill tender mercies of our Lord I rest Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637 Yours La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 108 My very worthy dear Friend GRace mercy peace be unto you Though all Galloway should have forgotten me I would have expected a letter from you ere now But I will not expound it to be forgetfulness of me Now My dear Brother I cannot shew you how matters goe betwixt Christ and me I finde my Lord going and coming seven times a day His visits are short but they are both frequent sweet I dare not for my life think of a challenge of my Lord I hear ill tales hard reports of Christ from the Tempter and my flesh but love beleeveth no evil I may swear that they are lyars and that apprehensions make lyes of Christ's honest and unalterable love to me
Christ every day so sweet comfortable lovely Kinde as three things onely trouble me 1. I see not how to be thankfull or how to get help to praise that royall King who raiseth up these that are bowed down 2. His love paineth me woundeth my soul so as I am in a fever for want of reall presence 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name that this is Christ his truth I now suffer for yea the apple of the eye of Christ's honour even the Soveraignity royall priviledges of our King law-giver Christ therefore let no man scar at Christ's cross or raise an ill report upon him or it for he beareth the sufferer it both I am here troubled with the disputes of the great Doctors especially with D. B. in Ceremoniall Arminian controverâ—â—es for all are corrupt here but I thank God with no detriment to the truth or discredit to my profession So then I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I who can be more weak But his grace is sufficient for me Brother remember our old Covenant pray for me write to me your case The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN MEINE 116 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I wonder ye sent me â—ot an answer to my last letter for I stand in need of it I am still 〈◊〉 some piece of court with our great King whose love would cause a dead man speak live whether my court will continue or not I cannot well say but I have his ear frequently to his glory onely I speak it no penurie of the love-kisses of the Son of God He thinketh good to cast apples to me in my prison to play withall lest I should think long faint I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of his love all I can doe is but to stand beside his great love look wonder my debts of thankfulness affright me I fear my Creditor get a Dyvour-bill a ragged account I would be much the better of help O for help that ye would take notice of my case Your not writing to me maketh me think ye suppose that I am not to be bemoaned because he is comfortable but I have pain in my unthankfulness pain in the feeling of his love while I am sick again for real presence reall possession of Christ yet there is no gooked if I may speak so nor fond love in Christ He casteth me down sometimes with challenges for old faults I know he knoweth well that sweet comforts are swelling therefore sorrow must make a vent to the wind my dumb sabbaths are undercotting wounds The condition of this oppressed kirk my brother's case I thank you your wife for your kindness to him hold my sore smarting keep my wounds bleeding but the ground-work standeth sure Pray for me Grace be with you Remember meto your wife Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 117 Reverend and dear Brother I Blesse you for your letter it was a shower to the new mowen grass The Lord hath given you the tongue of the Learned Be fruitfull humble It is possible ye come to my case or the like but the water is neither so deep nor the stream so strong as it is called I think my fire is not hot my water dry land my loss rich loss O if the walls of my prison be high wide large the place sweet No man knoweth it no man I say knoweth it my Dear Brother so well as he I no man can put it down in black white as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart My poor stock is growen since I came to Aberden And if any had known the wrong I did in being jealous of such an honest lover as Christ who witheld not his love from me they would think the more of it but I see he must be above me in mercy I will never strive with him To think to recompense him is folly If I had as many Angel's tongues as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation or as there are leaves of trees in all the forrests of the earth or stars in the heaven to praise yet my Lord Jesus would ever be behinde with me We will never get our accounts sitted A pardon must close the reckoning for his comforts to me in this his honourable cause have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us Love love I mean Christ's love is the hottest coal that ever I felt O but the smoke of it be hot Cast all the salt sea on it it will flame hell cannot quench it Many many waters will not quench love Christ is turned over to his poor prisoner in a masse globe of love I wonder he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am but he is no waster but abundant in mercy He hath no niggards almes when he is pleased to give O that I could invite all the nation to love him Free grace is an unknown thing This world hath heard but a bare name of Christ no more There are infinite plyes in his love that the saints will never win to unfold I would it were better known that Christ got more of his own due then de doeth Brother ye have chosen the good part who have taken part with Christ Ye will see him win the field ye shall get part of the spoile when he divideth it They are but fools who laugh at us for they see but the backside of the moon yet our moon-light it better thâ—n their twelve-hours-sun We have gotten the new heavens as a pledge of that the bridegroom's love-ring The children of the wedding chamber have cause to skip leap for joy for the marriage supper is drawing nigh we finde the fours-hours sweet comfortable O time be not slow O sun move speedily hasten our banquet O bridegroom be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains O welbeloved run fast that we may once meet Brother I contain my self for want of time Pray for me I hope to remember you The goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush the tender mercies of God in Christ enrich you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To BETHAIA AIRD. 118 Worthy Sister GRace mercy peace be unto you I know ye desire news from my prison I shall shew you news At my first entry hither Christ I agreed not well upon it The devil made a plea in the house I laid the blame upon Christ for my heart was fraughted with challenges I feared that I was an outcast that I was but a withered tree in
estimation of all his young lovers for we have all shapen Christ but too narrow too short formed conceptions of his love in our conceit very unworthy of it Oh that men were taken catched with his beauty fairness They would give over playing with idols in which there is not halfroom for the love of one soul to exspatiat itself man's love is but heart-hungered in gnawing upon bare bones sucking at dry breasts It is well wared they want who will not come to him who hath a world of love goodness bounty for all We seek to thawe our frozen hearts at the cold smoke of the short-timed creature our souls gather neither heat nor life nor light for these cannot give to us what they have not in themselves Oh that we could thrust in through these thorns this throng of bastardlovers be ravished sick of love for Christ We should sinde some footing some room sweet ease for our tottering wirless souls in our Lord. I wish it were in my power after this day to cry down all love but the love of Christ to cry down all Gods but Christ all Saviours but Christ all welbeloveds but Christ all soul-suters all love-beggers but Christ. Ye complain that ye want a mark of the sound work of grace love in your soul. For answer consider for your satisfaction till God send more 1. Ioh. 3 14. And as for your complaint of Deadness Doubtings Christ I hope will take your deadness you together They are bodies full of holes running boils broken bones that need mending that Christ the Physician taketh up whole vessels are not for the Mediator Christ's art Publicans sinners whores harlots are ready market-wares for Christ The onely thing that will bring sinners within a cast of Christ's drawing arm is that which ye write of some feeling of death Sin that bringeth forth complaints therefore out of sense complain more be more acquaint with all the cramps stitches soul-swoonings that trouble you The more pain the more night-watching the moe fevers the better A soul bleeding to death till Christ were sent for cried for in all haste to come stem the blood close up the hole in the wound with his own hand balm were a very good disease when many are dying of a whole heart We have all too little of hell-pain terrours that way Nay God send mesuch a hell as Christ hath promised to make a heaven out of Alas I am not come that far on in the way as to say in sad earnest Lord Iesus great soveraign Physician here is a pained patient for thee But the thing that we mistake is the want of victory we hold that to be the mark of one that hath no grace Nay I say the want of fighting were a mark of no grace but I shall not say the want of victory is such a mark If my fire the Devil's water make crackling like thunder in the air I am the less feared for where there is fire it is Christ's part that I lay binde upon him to keep in the coal and to pray the father that my faith fail not if I in the mean time be wrestling doing and sighing and mourning For prayer putteth not Paul's devil the prick in the flesh the messenger of Satan to the door at first but our Lord will have them trying every one another and let Paul send himself by God's help God keeping the stakes moderating the play And ye doe well not to doubt if the ground-stone be sure but to try if it be so for there is great ods between doubting that we have grace trying if we have grace the former may be sin but the latter is good We are but loose in trying our free-holding of Christ making sure work of Christ Holy fear is a searching the camp that there be no enemy within our bosom to betray us a seeing that all be fast sure For I see many lecking vessels fair before the wind professours who take their conversion upon trust they goe on securely see not to the under-water till a storm sink them Each man had need twice a day oftner to be ryped searched with candles pray for me that the Lord would give me house-room again to hold a candle to this dark world Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To MARGARET FULLERTON 154 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad that ever ye did cast your love on Christ fasten more and more love every day upon him O if I had a river of love a sea of love that would never goe dry to bestow upon him But alas the pity Christ hath beauty for me but I have not love for him O what pain is it to see Christ in his beauty then to want a heart love for him But I see want we must till Christ lend us never to be payed again O that he would empty these vaults and lower houses of these poor souls of these bastard and base lovers which we follow And verily I see no object in heaven or in earth that I could ware this much of love upon that I have but upon Christ. Alas that clay and time and shadows run away with our love which is ill spent upon any but upon Christ each fool at the day of judgement shall seek back his love from the creatures when he shall see them all in a fair fire but they shall prove irresponsall debters And therefore best here look ere we leap and look ere we love I finde now under his cross that I would fain give him more then I have to give him if giving were in my power But I rather wish him my heart then give him it except he take it and put himself in possession of it for I hope he hath a market-right to me since he hath ransomed me I see not how Christ can have me O that he would be pleased to be more homely with my soul's love and to come in to my soul and take his own But when he goeth away hideth himself all is to me that I had of Christ as if it had fallen in the seabottom Oh that I should be so fickle in my love as to love Christ onely by the eyes and the nose That is to love him onely in as far as fond foolish sense carrieth me no more And when I see not smell not and touch not then I have all to seek I cannot love parquier nor rejoyce parquier But this is our weakness till we be at home shall have aged mens stomacks to bear Christ's love Pray for me that our Lord would bring me back to you with a new blessing of the Gospel of Christ. I forget not you Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours
in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING 155. Dear Brother YE are heartily welcome to that honour that Christ hath made common to us both which is to suffer for his name Verily I think it my garland crown if the Lord should ask of me my blood life for this cause I would gladly in his strength pay due debt to Christ's honour glory in that kinde Acquaint your self with Christ's love ye shall not miss to finde new goldeÌ„ mines treasures in Christ Nay truly we but stand beside Christ we goe not in to him to take our fill of him But if he should doe two things 1. Draw the curtains make bare his holy face then 2. Clear our dim bleared eyes to see his beauty glory he should finde many lovers I would seek no more happiness but a sight of him so near hand as to see hear smell touch embrace him But oh closed doors vails curtains thick clouds hold me in pain while I finde the sweet burning of his love that many waters cannot quench O what sad hours have I when I think that love of Christ scarreth at me bloweth by me If my Lord Jesus would come to bargaining for his love I think he should make price himself I should not refuse ten thousand years in hell to have a wide soul enlarged made wider that I might be exceedingly even to the running over filled with his love O what am I to love such an one or to be loved by that high lofty One I think the Angels may blush to look upon him what am I to file such infinite brightness with my sinfull eyes O that Christ would come near stand still give me leave to look upon him For to look seemeth the poor man's priviledge since he may for nothing without hire behold the sun I should have a King's life if I had no other thing to doe but for evermore to behold eye my fair Lord Jesus Nay suppose I were holden out at heaven's fair entry I should be happy for evermore to look through an hole in the door see my dearest fairest Lord's face O great King why standest thou aloof Why remainest thou beyond the mountains O welbeloved why doest thou pain a poor soul with delayes a long time out of thy glorious presence is two deaths two hells to me We must meet I must see him I dow not want him hunger longing for Christ hath brought on such a necessity of enjoying Christ that cost me what it will I cannot but assure Christ I will not I dow not want him For I cannot master or command Christ's love nay hell as I now think all the pains in it laid on me alone would not put me from loving Yea suppose my Lord Jesus would not love me it is above my strength or power to keep back or imprison the weak love I have but it must be out to Christ I would set heaven's joy aside live upon Christ's love it 's alone Let me have no joy but the warmness fire of God's love I seek no other God knoweth if this love be taken from me the bottom is fallen out of all my happiness joy therefore I beleeve Christ will never doe me that as to bereave a poor prisoner of his love it were cruelty to take it from me he who is kindness it self cannot be cruel Dear Brother weary not of my sweet Master's chains we are so much the sibber to Christ that we suffer Lodge not a hard thought of my royal King rejoyce in his cross Your deliverance sleepeth not he that will come is not slack of his promise Wait on for God's timeous salvation ask not when or How long I hope he shall lose nothing of you in the furnace but dross Commit your cause in meekness forgiving your oppressours to God and your sentence shall come back from him laughing Our Bridegroom's day is posting fast on this world that seemeth to goe with a long and a short foot shall be put in two ranks Wait till your ten dayes be ended and hope for the crown Christ will not give you a blinde in the end Commend me to your wife and father to Bailiffe M. A. And send this letter to him The prayers of Christ's prisoner be upon you the Lord's presence accompany you Aberd. July 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNO X. of Disdove 156. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I beseech you in the Lord Jesus make fast and sure work of life eternall Sow not rotten seed every man's work will speak for it self what his seed hath been O how many see I who sow to the flesh Alas what a crop will that be when the Lord shall put in his hook to reap this world that is ripe white for judgement I recommend to you holiness sanctification that ye keep your self clean from this present evil world We delight to tell our own dreams to flatter our own flesh with the hope we have It were wisdom for us to be free plain honest sharp with our own souls and to charge them to brew better thâ—t they may drink well and fare well when time is melted away like snow in a hot summer O how hard a thing is it to get the soul to give up with all things on this side of death and doomsday We say we are removing and going from this world but our heart stirreth not one foot off it's seat Alas I see few heavenly minded souls that have nothing upon the earth but their body of clay going up and down this earth because their soul the powers of it are up in heaven there their hearts live desire enjoy rejoyce Oh mens souls have no wings and therefore night and day they keep their nest and are not acquaint with Christ Sir take you to your one thing to Christ that ye may be acquainted with the taste of his sweetness excellency charge your love not to dote upon this world for it will not doe your business in that day when nothing will come in good stead to you but God's favour Build upon Christ some good choice fast work for when your soul for many years hath taken the play hath posted wandered through the creatures ye will come home again with the wind They are not good at least not the souls good it is the infinite Godhead that must allay the sharpness of your hunger after happiness otherwise there shall still be a want of satisfaction to your desires And if he would cast in ten worlds in your desires all shall fall thorow your soul shall still cry red hunger black hunger But I am sure there is sufficient for you in Christ if ye had seven souls seven desires in you Oh if I could make my
spue fall Remember my love to your good kinde wife Grace be with you Aberd. Nov. 23. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOVVN ELDER Rev. 12 11. And they overcame the Dragon by the blood of the Lamb the word of their testimony they loved not their lives unto the death 165 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in paper to be refreshed by you I cannot but desire you charge you to help me to praise him who feedeth a poor prisoner with the fatness of his house O how weighty is his love O but there is much telling in Christ's kindness The Amen the faithfull true witness hath payed me my hundred fold well told one to the hundred I complained of him but he is owing me nothing now Sir I charge you to help me to praise his goodness to proclaim to others my Bridegroom's kindness whose love is better then wine I took up an action against Christ bought a plea against his love libelled unkindness against Christ my Lord I said this is my death he hath forgotten me But my meek Lord held his peace beheld me would not contend for the last word of flyting now hath chided himself friends with me And now I see he must be God I must be flesh I pass from my summonds I acknowledge he might have given me my fill of it never troubled himself But now he háth taken away the mask I have been comforted he could not smother his love any longer to a prisoner a stranger God grant that I may never buy a plea against Christ again but may keep good quarters with him I want no kindness no love-token but Oh wise is his love for notwithstanding of this hot summer-blenk I am keeped low with the grief of my silence for his word is in me as a fire in my bowels and I see the Lord's vineyard laid waste the heathen entred into the sanctuary and my belly is pained and my soul in heaviness because the Lord's people is gone into captivity because of the fury of the Lord that wind but neither to fan nor to purge that is coming upon Apostate Scotland Also I am kept awake with the late wrong done to my brother but I trust ye will counsel comfort him Yet in this mist I see beleeve the Lord will heal this halting Kirk will lay her stones with fair colours her foundations with Saphires will make her windows of Agates her gates Carbuncles Isa. 54. 11 12. And for brass he will bring gold He hath created the smith that formed the sword no weapon in war shall prosper against use Let us be glad rejoyce in the Lord for his Salvation is near to come Remember me to your wife your son Iohn And I entreat you to write to me Grace grace be with you Aberd. Decemb. 30. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FERGUSHILL 166 Reverend welbeloved in our Lord Iesus I Must still provoke you to write by my lines whereat ye need not wonder for the cross is full of talke speak it must either good or bad Neither can grief be silent I have no dittay nor inditement to bring against Christ's cross seeing he hath made a friendly agreement betwixt me it we are in terms of love together If my former miscarriages my nowsilent sabbaths seem to me to speak wrath from the Lord I dare say it is but Satan borrowing the use loan of my cowardly feeble apprehensions which start at straws I know faith is not so saint foolish as to tremble at every false alarm Yet I gather this out of it Blessed are they who are grac'd of God 〈◊〉 guide a cross well that there is some art required herein I pray God I may not be so ill friend-stead as that Christ my Lord should leave me to be my own Tutour my own Physician Shall I not think but my Lord Jesus who deserveth his own place very well will take his own place upon him as it becometh him that he will fill his own chair For in this is his office to comfort us thes that are casten down in all their tribulations 2 Cor. 1. 4. Alas I know I am a fool to seek an hole or defect in Christ's way with my soul. If I have not a stock to pre sent to Christ at his appearance yet I pray God I may be able with joy faith constancy to shew the Captain of my savation in that day a bloody head that I received in his service howbeit my faith hang by a small tack threed I hope the tack shall not break howbeit my Lord get no service of me but broken wishes yet I trust these shall be accepted upon Christ's account I have nothing to comfort me but that I say Oh will the Lod disappoint an hungry on-waiter The smell of Christ's wine apples which surposse the uptaking of dull sense bloweth upon my soul I get no more for the mean time I am sure to let a famishing body see meat give him none of it is a double pain Our Lord's love it not so cruell as to let a poor man see Christ heaven never give him more for want of money to buy nay I rather think Christ such fair market-wares as buyers may have â—it out money without price And thus I know it shall not stand upon my want of money for Christ upon his own charges must buy my wedding garment redeem the inheritance which I have forfeited give his word for one the like of me who am not law-biding of my self Poor folks must either borrow or beg from the rich the onely thing that commendeth sinners to Christ is extream necessity want Christ's love is ready to make provide a ransome money for a poor body who hath lost his his purse Ho ye that have no money come buy Isa 55. 1. That is the poor man's market Now Brother I see old crosses would have done nothing at me therefore Christ hath takeÌ„ a new fresh rod to me that seemeth to talk with my soul make me tremble I have often more adoe now with faith when I lose my compasse am blowen on a rock then these who are my beholders standing upon the shore are aware of a counsel to a sick man is sooner given then taken Lord send the wearied man a borrowed bed from Christ I think often it is after supper with me I am heavie O but I would sleep soundly with Christ's left hand under my head his right hand embracing me the devil could not spill that bed When I consider how tenderly Christ hath cared for me in this prison I think he hath handled me as the bairn that it pitied
more then papergrace or tongue-grace Were it not that want paineth me I should have skailed house gone a begging long since but Christ hath left me with some hunger that is more hot then wise is ready often to say If Christ longed for me as I doe for him we should not be long in meeting and if he loved my company aswell as I doe his even while I am writing this letter to you we should flee in other's arms But I know there is more will then wit in this languor pining love for Christ no marvel for Christ's love would have hot harvest long ere mid-summer But if I have any love to him Christ hath both love to me wit to guide his love I see the best thing I have hath as much dross beside it as might curse me it both if it were for no more we have need of a Saviour to pardon the very faults and diseases weakness of the new man to take away to say so our godly sins or the sins of our sanctification the dross scum of spiritual love woe woe is me O what need is there then of Christ's calling to scour cleanse wash away an ugly old body of sin the very image of Satan I know nothing surer then that there is an office for Christ among us I wish for no other heaven in this side of the last sea that I must cross then this service of Christ to make my blackness beauty my deadness life my guiltiness sanctification I long much for that day when I will be holy O what spots are yet unwashen O that I could change the skin of the leopard and the Moor and niffer it with some of Christ's fairness Were my blackness Christ's beauty carded through other as we use to speak his beauty holiness would eat up my filthiness But Oh I have not casten old Adam's hew colour yet I trow the best of us hath a smell yet of the old loathsom body of sin guiltiness Happy are they for evermore who can employ Christ set his blood death on work to make clean work to God of foul souls I know it is our sin that we would have sanctification on the sunny side of the the hill holiness with nothing but summer no crosses at all Sin hath made us as tender as if were made of paper or glass I am often thinking what I would think of Christ burning quick together of Christ torturing hot melted lead poured in at mouth navel yet I have some weak experience but very weak indeed that suppose Christ hell's torments were married together if there were no finding of Christ at all except I went to hell's furnace that there in no other place I could meet with him I trow if I were as I have been since I was his prisoner I would beglodging for God's sake in hell hottest furnace that I might rub souls with Christ But God be thanked I shall finde him in a better lodging We get Christ better cheap then so when he is rouped to us we get him but with a shower of summertroubles in this life as sweet as soft to beleevers as a May-dew I would have you my self helping Christ mystical to weep for his wife O thatf we could mourn for Christ buried in Scotland for his two slain witnesses killed because they prophesied If we could so importune solicit God our buried Lord his two buried witnesses should rise again Earth clay and stone will nto bear down Christ the Gospel in Scotland I know not if I will see the second temple the glory of it but the Lord hath deceived me if it be not to be reared up again I would wish to give Christ his welcome-home again My blessing my joy my glory love be on the home-comer I finde no better use of suffering then that Christ's winnowing putteth chaff corn in the saints to sundry places and discovereth our dross from his gold so as corruption and grace are so seen that Christ saith in the furnace that is mine this is yours The scum the grounds thy stomack against the persecuters thy impatience thy unbelief thy quarreling these are thine And faith on-waiting love joy courage are mine Oh let me die one of Christ's on-waiters one of his attendants I know your heart Christ are married together it were not good to make a divorce Rue not of that meeting marriage with such a husband Pray for me his prisoner Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr HUGH Mc KAILL 183 Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless you for it My dry root would take more dew summer-rain then it getteth were it not Christ will have driness deadness in us to work upon If there were no timber to work upon art would die never be seen I see grace hath a field to play upon to course up down in our wants so that I am often thanking God not for guiltiness but for guiltiness for Christ to whet sharpen his grace upon I am half content to have boils for my Lord Jesus's plaisters sickness hath this advantage that it draweth our sweet Physician 's hand his holy soft fingers to touch our withered leper skins it is a blessed fever that fetcheth Christ to the bed-side I think my Lord's How doest thou with it sick body Is worth all my pained nights Surely I have no more for Christ but emptiness want take or leave he will get me no other wise I must sell my self my wants to him but I have no price to give for him If he would put a fair a real seal upon his love to me bestow upon me a larger share of Christ's love which I would fainest be in hands with of any thing I except not heaven it self I should goe on sighing singing under his cross But the worst is many take me for some-body because the wind bloweth upon a withered prisoner But the truth is I am both lean and thin in that wherein many beleeve I abound I would if bartering were in my power niffer joy with Christ's love faith in stead of the hot sun-shine becontent to walk under a cloudy shadow with more grief sadness to have more faith a fair occasion of setting forth commending Christ to make that lovely One that fair One that sweetest and dearest Lord Jesus market-sweet for many ears hearts in Scotland and if it were in my power to roup Christ to the three Kingdoms withall to perswade buyers to come and to take such sweet wares as Christ I would thinâ— to have many sweet bargains betwixt Christ the sons of men I would I could be humble goe with a
The supper will be great chear that is up in the great hall with the royal King of glory when the four-hours the standing drink in this driery wilderness is so sweet When he bloweth a kiss a far off to his poor heart broken mourners in Zion and sendeth me but his hearty commendations till we meet I am confounded with wonder to think what it shall be when the fairest among the sons of men shall lay a King 's sweet soft cheek to the sinfull cheeks of poor sinners O time time goe swiftly hasten that day Sweet Lord Jesus post come flying like a young Hart or a Roe upon the mountains of separation I think we should tell the hours carefully look often how low the sun is For love hath no ho it is pained pained in it self till it come in grips with the party beloved 2. I finde Christ's absence love's sickness love's death The wind that bloweth out of the airth where my Lord Jesus reigneth is sweet-smelled soft joyfull heartsom to a soul burnt with absence It is a painfull battel for a soul sick of love to fight with absence delayes Christ's not yet is a stounding of all the joynts liths of the soul a nod of his head when he is under a mask would be half a pawne to say fool what aileth thee He is coming would be life to a dead man I am often in my dumb sabbaths seeking a new plea with my Lord Jesus God forgive me I care not if there be not two or three ounce weight of black wrath in my cup. For the 3 Thing I have seen my abominable vileness If I were well known there would none in this Kingdom ask how I doe Men take my ten to be an hundred but I am a deeper hypocrite shallower professour then every one beleeveth God knoweth I feigne not But I think my reckonings on the one page written in great letters his mercy to such a forlorn wretched Dyvour on the other more then a miracle If I could get my finger ends upon a full assurance I trow I should grip fast But my cup wanteth not gall upon my part despair might be almost excused if every one in this land saw my inner side But I know I am one of them who have made great sale a free market to free grace If I could be saved as I would fain beleeve sure I am I have given Christ's blood his free grace the bowels of his mercy a large field to work upon Christ hath manifested his art I dare not say to the uttermost for he can if he would forgive all the Devils damned reprobates in respect of the wideness of his mercy I say to an admirable degree 4. I am striken with fear of unthankfulness This Apostate Kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers they are spitting in the face of my lovely King and mocking him and I dow not mend it they are running away from Christ in troops and I dow not mourn be grieved for it I think Christ lieth like an old forecasten castle forsaken of the inhabitants all men run away now from him Truth innocent Truth goeth mourning wringing her hands in sackcloth ashes Woe woe woe is me for the virgin-daughter of Scotland Woe woe to the inhabitants of this land for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding These things take me so up that a borrowed bed another man's fire-side the wind upon my face I being driven from my lovers dear acquaintance my poor flock finde no room in my sorrow I have no spare of odde sorrow for these Onely I think the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth blessed birds Nothing hath given my faith a harder back-set till it crack again then my closed mouth But let me be miserable my self alone God keep my dear brethren from it But still I keep breath when my royal and never never-enough praised King returneth to his sinfull prisoner I ride upon the high places of Iacob I divide Shechem I triumph in his strength If this Kingdom would glorifie the Lord in my behalf I desire to be weighed in God's even ballance in this point if I think not my wages payed to the full I shall crave no more hire of Christ. Madam pity me in this help me to praise him For what ever I be the chief of sinners a devil a most guilty devil yet it is the apple of Christ's eye his honour glory as the head of the church that I suffer for now that I will goe to eternity with I am greatly in love with Mr M. M. I see him stamped with the image of God I hope well of your son my Lord Boyd Your La and your children have a prisoner's prayers Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 188. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I rejoyce that ye cannot be quite of Christ if I may speak so but he must he will have you Betake your self to Christ my dear Brother It is a great business to make quite of superfluities of these things which Christ cannot dwell with I am content with my own cross that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot because it is Christ's mine together I marvel not that winter is without heaven for there is no winter within it All the saints therefore have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer Oh for the long day the high sun the fair garden the King 's great citie up above these visible heavens What God layeth on let us suffer For some have one cross some seven some ten some half a cross yet all the saints have whole full ioy seven crosses have seven ioyes Christ is cumbred with me to speak so my cross but he falleth not off me we are not at variance I finde the very glooms of Christ's wooing a soul sweet lovely I had rather have Christ's buffet and love-stroke then another King's kiss Speak evil of Christ who will I hope to die with love-thoughts of him Oh that there are so few tongues in heaven and earth to extoll him I wish his praises goe not down amongst us Let not Christ be low lightly esteemed in the midst of us but let all hearts all tongues cast in their portion contribute something to make him great in mount Zion Thus recommending you to his grace remembring my love to your wife mother your kinde brother R. entreating you to remember my bonds I rest Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of MONCRIEFE 189 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you Although not acquaint yet at the desire of your worthy sister the Lady Ley's upon the report of your kindness
live being removed far from my acquaintance my lovers my friends I see God hath the world on his wheels casteth it as a potter doeth a vessel on the wheel I dare not say that there is any inordinat or irregular motion in Providence The Lord hath done it I will not goe to law with Christ for I would again nothing of that 3. I have learned some greater mortification not to mourn after or seek to suck the world's dry breasts Nay my Lord hath filled me with such dainties that I am like to a full banquettor who is not for common chear What have I to doe to fall down upon my knees worship mankind's great idol The World I have a better God then any clay-God Nay at present as I am now disposed I care not much to give this world a discharge of my life-rent of it for bread water I know it is not my home nor my father's house it is but his footstool the outer cloâ—ster of his house his out-field moor-ground Let bastards take it I hope never to think my self in it's common for honour or riches nay now I say to laughter Thou art madness 4. I finde it most true that the greatest tempâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to live without temptations if my waters should stand they would rot Faith is the better of the free air of the sharp winter-storm in it's face Grace withereth without adversity The Devil is but God's Master-fencer to teach us to handle our weapons 5. I never knew how weak I was till now when he hideth himself when I have him to seek seven times a day I am a dry withered branch a piece of a dead carcase dry bones not able to step over a straw The thoughts of my old sins are as the summonds of death to me And of late my Brother's case hath striken me to the heart when my wounds are closing a little rifle causeth them to bleed afresh So thin-skin'd is my soul that I think it is like a tender man's skin that may touch nothing ye see how short I would shoot of the prize if his grace were not sufficient for me Woe 's me for the day of Scotland Woe woe is me for my harlot-mother for the decree is gone forth women of this land shall call the childless miscarrying wombs blessed The anger of the Lord is gone forth shall not return till he perform the purpose of his heart against Scotland Yet he shall make Scotland a new sharp instrument having teeth to thresh the mountains fan the hills as chaff The prisoners blessing be upon you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady BUSBIE 194 MTSTRESS I Know ye are thinking sometimes what Christ is doing in Zion that the haters of Zion may get the bottom of our cup the burning coals of our furnace that we have been tryed in these many yeers by gone O that this Nation would be awakened to cry mightily unto God for the setting up of a new â—abernacle to Christ in Scotland O if this Kiâ—gdom kneâ— how worthy Christ were of his room His worth waâ— eveâ— above man's â—stimation of him And for my self I aâ— pained at the heart that I cannot finde my self disposed to leavâ— myself goe wholly in to Christ Alas that there should bâ— oâ—e bit oâ— me out of him and that we leave too much liberty and latitude for our selves and our own ease and credit pleasures so little room for All-love-worthy Christ O what pains charges it costeth Christ ere he get us when all is done we are not worth the having It is a â—ondâ—r that he should seek the like of us but love overlooketh blacknes and â—ecklesness for if it had not been so Christ would never have made so fair blessed a bargain with us as the covenant of Grace is I finde that in all our sufferings Christ is but â—iddiâ—g marches that every one of us may say Mine Tâ—ine and that men may know by their crosses how weak a bottom nature is to stand under a trial that then which our Lord intendeth in all our sufferings is to bring Graâ—e in â—â—uit aâ—d râ—quâ—st amongst us I would succumb and â—â—me shoâ—t of hea en if I had no more but my own strength to sâ—pport me and if Christ should say to me Eitâ—â—r doe or die it were easie to determine what should become of me the châ—ice were easie for I bâ—hooved to die if Christ should passe by witâ— straiâ—ned bowel and who then would take us up in our strâ—its I know we may say that Christ is kindest in his love when we are at our weakest and that if Christ had not been to the fore in our sad dayes the waters had gone over our soul His mercy haâ—h a â—et period and appointed place how far no further the sâ—a of affliction shall flow and where the waves thereof shall be stâ—yed he prescribeth how much pain and sorrow both for weight and measure we must have Ye have then good cause to râ—call your love from all lovers and give it to Christ He who is afflicted in all your afflictions looketh not oâ— you iâ— your sad hours with an insensible heart or dry eyes All the Lords saints may see that it is lost love whâ—ch is bestowed upon this perishing world death judgement will make men lament that ever their miscarrying heart â—arryed them to lay lavish out their love upon false appearances right-dreams Alas that Christ should fare the worse because o◠〈◊〉 own goodness in making peace the gospel to ride together that wâ— have never yet weighed the worth of Christ in his ordinances that now we are like to be deprived of the well ere we have tasted the sweetness of the water it may be with waterâ— eyes 〈◊〉 a wâ—t face and weaâ—iâ—d feet we seek Christ shall not findâ— him â—h that this land were humbled in time and by prayers â—â—ye humiliation would bring Christ in at the churchdoor again now when his back is turned toward us and he is gone to the threshold his one foot as it werâ— is out of the â—oor I am sure his departure is our deserving we have bought it with our iniquities for even the Lord 's own children are fallen asleep And alas professours are made all of shews fashions and are not at pains to recover themselves again Every one hath his set measure of faith holiness and coâ—teâ—teth himself with a stinted measure of godliness as if that were â—â—ough to bring them to heaven We forget that as our gifts and light grow so God's gain and the interest of his talents should grow also and that we cannot pay God with the old use and wont as we use to speak which we gave him seven yeers agoe for this were to mock the Lord and to make price with him as
joy cast water on our coal It is a sweet thing to see them cast out God take in to see them throw us away as the refuse of men God take us up as his jewels his treasure Often he maketh gold of dross as once he made the cast-away stone the stone rejected by the builders the head of the corner The Princes of this world would not have our Lord Jesus a pinning in the wall or to have any place in the building but the Lord made him the Master-stone of power place God be thanked that this world hath not power to cry us down so many pounds as rulers cry down light gold or light silver We shall stand for as much as our master-coiner Christ whose coin arms stamp we bear will have us Christ hath no miscarrying ballance Thank your Lord who chaseth your love through two Kingdoms followeth you it over sea to have you for himself as he speaketh Hos. 3. For God layeth up his saints as the waile the choice of all the world for himself this is like Christ his love O what in heaven or out of heaven is comparable to the smell of Christ's garments Nay suppose our Lord would manifest his art make ten thousand heavens of good glorious things of new joyes devised out of the deep of infinite wisdom he could not make the like of Christ for Christ is God God cannot be made therefore let us hold us with Christ howbeit we might have our waile will of an host of lovers as many as three heavens could contain O that he we were together O when Christ ye shall meet about the outmost march borders of time the entry into eternity ye shall see heaven in his face at the first look salvation glory sitting in his countenance betwixt his eyes Faint not the miles to heaven are but few short he is making a green bed as the word speaketh Cant. 1. of love for himself you There are many heads lying in Christ's bosom but there is room for yours among the rest And therefore goe on let hope goe before you Sin not in your trials the victory is yours pray wrestle beleeve ye shall overcome prevail with God as Iacob did No windle-straws no bits of clay no temptations which are of no longer life then an hour will then be able to withstand you when once ye have prevailed with God Help me with your prayers that it would please the Lord to give me house-room again to speak of his righteonsness in the great congregation if it may seem good in his sight Grace grace be with you Aberd. Jan. 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. THE SECOND PART Containing Some letters of the same Author from Anwoth before his confinement at Aberdeen And others from St Andrevvs London c. after his enlargement To the Vicountess of Kenmure 1. MADAM ALL dutifull obedience in the Lord remembred I have heard of your La Infirmity and sickness with grief yet I trust ye have learned to say It is the Lord let him doe whatsoever seemeth good in his eyes It is now many years since the Apostate Angels made a question whether their will or the will of their Creator should be done since that time frâ—ward mankinde hath alwayes in that same sute of Law compeared to plead with them against God in a dayly repining against his will but the Lord being both party Judge hath obtained a decreet saith Isa. 46. 10. My counsel shall stand I will doe all my pleasure It is then best for us in the obedience of faith in an holy submission to give that to God which the Law of â—is almighty just power will have of us Therefore Madam your Lord willeth you in all states of life to say Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven herein shall ye have comfort that he who seeth perfectly through all your evils knoweth the frame constitution of your nature what is most healthfull for your soul holdeth every cup of affliction to your head with his own gracious hand Never beleeve that your tender-hearted Saviour who knoweth the strength of your stomack will mix that cup with one dram weight of poison Drink then with the patience of the saints the God of patience bless your Physick I have heard your La complain of deadness want of the bestirring power of the life of God but courage he who walked in the garden made a noise that made Adam hear his voice will also at sometimes walk in your soul make you hear a more sweet word Yet ye will not alwayes hear the noâ—se the din of his feet when he walketh Ye are at such a time like Iacob mourning at the supposed death of Ioseph when Joseph was living The new creature the image of the second Adam is living in you yet ye are mourning at the supposed death of the life of Christ in you Ephraim is bemoaning mourning Ier. 31. 18. When he thinketh God is far off heareth not yet God is like the Bridegroom Cant. 2. standing onely behinde a thin wall laying to his ear for he saith himself ver 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself I have good confidence Madam that Christ Jesus whom your soul through forrests mountains is seeking is within you And yet I speak not this to lay a pillow under your head or to disswade you from an holy fear of the losse of your Christ or of provoking stirring up the beloved before he please by sin I know in spiritual confidence the Devil will come in as in all other good works cry half mine so endeavour to bring you under a fearfull sleep till he whom your soul loveth be departed from the door have left off knocking therefore here the Spirit of God must hold your souls feet in the golden mid-line betwixt confident resting in the arms of Christ presumptuous and drousie sleeping in the bed of fleshly security Therefore worthy Lady so count little of your self because of your own wretchedness and sinfull drousiness that ye count not also little of God in the course of his unchangeable mercy For there be many Christians most like unto young sailers who think the shore the whole land doeth move when the ship they themselves are moved just so not a few doe imagine that God moveth saileth changeth places because their giddy souls are under sail subject to alteration to ebbing flowing but the foundation of the Lord abideth sure God knoweth that ye are his own Wrestle fight goe forward watch fear beleeve pray then ye have all the infallible symptomes of one of the elect of Christ within you Ye have now Madam a sickness before you also after that a death gather
your glass now then there was yesternight this span-length of ever-posting time will soon be ended But the greater is the mercy of God the moe years ye get to advise upon what terms upon what conditions ye cast your soul in the huge gulf of never-ending Eternity The Lord hath told you what ye should be doing till he come wait hasten saith Peter for the coming of our Lord All is night that is here in respect of ignorance daily ensuing troubles one alwayes making way to another as the ninth wave of the sea to the tenth therefore sigh long for the dawning of that morning the breaking of that day of the coming of the SoÌ„ of man when the shadows shall flee away Perswade your self the King is coming read his letter sent before him Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly Wait with the wearied night-watch for the breaking of the eastern skie think that ye have not a morrow As the wise father said who being invited against to morrow to dine with his friends answered These many dayes I have had no morrow at all I am loath to weary you Shew your self a Christian by suffering without murmuring for which sin fourteen thousand seven hundred were slain Numb 16. 49. In patience possess your soul they lose nothing who gain Christ. Thus remembring my brother's my wife's humble service to your La I commend you to the mercy grace of our Lord Jesus assuring you that your day is coming that God's mercy is abiding you The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth Jan. 15. 1629. Yours in the Lord Iesus at all dutifull obedience S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 5. MADAM SAluting you in Jesus Christ to my grief I must bid you 〈◊〉 may be for ever farewell in paper having small assurance 〈◊〉 to see your face again till the last general Assembly where the whole church universal shall meet Yet promising by his grace to present your La your burdens to him who is able to save you give you an inheritance with the saints after a more special manner then ever I have done before Ye are going to a countrey where the Sun of righteousness in the Gospel shineth not so clearly as in this Kingdom but if ye would know where he whom your soul loveth doeth rest where he feedeth at the noon-tide of the day where ever ye be get you forth by the footsteps of the stock feed your self beside the shepherds tents Cant. 1 7. that is ask for some of the watchmen of the Lord's city who will tell you truly will not lye where ye shall finde him whom your soul loveth I trust ye are so betrothed in marriage to the true Christ that ye will not give your love to any false Christ Ye know not how soon your marriage-day will come nay is not Eternity hard upon you It were time then that ye had your wedding garment in readiness be not sleeping at your Lord's coming I pray God ye may be upon your feet standing when he knocketh Be not discouraged to goe from this countrey to another part of the Lord's earth the earth is his the fulness thereof Psal. 24 1. This is the Lord's lower house while we are lodged here we have no assurance to lie ever in one chamber but must be content to remove from one corner of our Lord's nether-house to another resting in hope that when we come up to the Lord 's upper city Ierusalem that is above we shall remove no more because then we shall be at home And goe wheresoever ye will if your Lord goe with you ye are at home your lodging is ever taken before night so long as he who is Israel's dwelling house is your home Psal. 90 1. Beleeve me Madam my minde is that ye are well lodged that in your house there are fair ease-rooms pleasant lights if ye can in faith lean down your head upon the breast of Jesus Christ till this be ye shall never get a sound sleep Jesus Jesus be your shadow your covering It is a sweet soul-sleep to lie in the arms of Christ for his breath is very sweet Pray for poor friendless Zion Alas No man will speak for her now although at home in her own countrey she hath good friends her husband Christ his father her father in law Beseech your husband to be a friend to Zion pray for her I have received many divers dashes heavy strokes since the Lord called me to the Ministery but indeed I esteem your departure from us amongst the weightiest but I perceive God will have us to be deprived of whatsoever we idolize that he may have his own room I see exceeding small fruit of my Ministery would be glad to know of one soul to be my crown rejoycing in the day of Christ. Though I spend my strength in vain yet my labour is with my God Isa. 49 9. I wish pray that the Lord would harden my face against all make me to learn to goe with my face against a storm Again I commend you body spirit to him who hath loved us washed us from our sins in his own blood Grace grace grace for ever be with you Pray pray continually Anwoth Sept 14. 1629. Your La at all dutifull obedience in Christ S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY 6. My loving most affectionat brother in Christ. I Salute you with grace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Iesus Christ. I promised to write to you although late enough yet now I make it good I heard with grief of your great danger of perishing by the sea but of your mercifull deliverance with joy Sure I am Brother Satan will leave no stone unrolled as the proverb is to roll you off your rock or at least to shake unsettle you For at that same time the mouths of wicked men were opened in hard speeches against you by land the Prince of the power of the air was angry with you by sea See then how much ye are obliged to that malitions murderer who would beat you with two rods at one time but blessed be God his arm is short If the sea winds would have obeyed him ye had never come to land Thank your God who saith Rev. 1 18. I have the keys of hell and of death Deut 32 39. I kill and I make alive 1 Sam. 2 6. The Lord bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up If Satan were Iaylâ—ur and had the keys of Death or the Grave they should be stored with moe prisoners Ye were knocking at these black gates and ye found the doors shut and we doe all welcome you back again I trust ye know it is not for nothing that ye are sent to us again The Lord knew ye had forgotten something that was necessary for your journey that your armour was not as yet thick enough
not but goeth with even equal legs yet are they not the greatest sinners upon whom tower of Siloam fell was not time's lease expired the sand of heaven's sand-glass set by our Lord run out Is not he an unjust debter who payeth due debt with chiding I beleeve Christian Lady your faith leaveth that much charity to our Lord's judgements as to beleeve how beit ye be in blood sib to that cross that yet ye are exempted freed from the gall wrath that is in it I dare not deny but Iob. 18 15. the King of terrors dwelleth in the wicked man's tabernacle brimstone shall be scattered on his habitation yet Madam it is safe for you to live upon the faith of his love whose arrows are over-watered pointed with love mercy to his own who knoweth how to take you yours out of the roll book of the dead Our Lord hath not the eyes of flesh in distributing wrath to the thousand generation without exception Seeing ye are not under the Law but under Grace married to another husband Wrath is not the Court that ye are liable to As I would not wish neither doe I beleeve your La doeth despise so neither faint read spell aright all the words syllabes in the visitation miscall neither letter nor syllabe in it Come along with the Lord see lay no more weight upon the Law then your Christ hath laid upon it If the Law 's bill get an answer from Christ the curses of it can doe no more And I hope ye have resolved that if he should grind you to powder your dust powder shall beleeve his salvation And who can tell what thoughts of love peace our Lord hath to your children I trust he shall make them famous in excuting the written judgements upon the enemies of the Lord this honour have all his saints Psal. 149 9. that they shall bear stones on their shoulders for building that city that is called Ezek. 46 35. The Lord is there happy shall they be who have a hand in the sacking of Babel come out in the year of vengeance for the controversy of Zion against the land of graven images Therefore Madam let the Lord make out of your father's house any work even of judgement that he pleaseth What iâ— wrath to others is mercy to you your house It is Faith's work to claim and challenge loving kindness out of all the roughest strokes of God Doe that for the Lord which ye will doe for time time will calme your heart at that which God hath done let our Lord have it now What love ye did bear to friends now dead seeing they stand now in no need of it let it fall as just legacy to Christ. O how sweet to put out many strange lovers to put in Christ It is much for our half-slain affections to part with that which we beleeve we have right unto but the servant's will should be our will he is the best servant who retaineth least of his own will most of his Master's That much wisdom must be ascribed to our Lord that he knoweth how to lead his own in-through and out-through the little time-hells and the pieces of time-during wraths in this life yet keep safe his love without any blurre upon the old great seal of free Election And seeing his mountains of brass the mighty strong decrees of free grace in Christ stand sure the Covenant standeth fast for ever as the dayes of heaven let him strike nurture his striking must be a very act of saving seeing strokes upon his secret ones come from the soft heavenly hand of the Mediatour his rods are steeped watered in that flood river of love that cometh from the God-man's heart of our soul-loving soul-redeeming JESUS I hope ye are content to frist the Cautioner of mankinde his own conquest heaven till he pay it you bring you to a state of glory where he shall never crook a finger upon nor lift a hand to you again And be content withall greedily covetous of Grace the interest pledge of Glory If I did not beleeve your crop to be on the ground your part of that heaven of the saints heaven white ruddy fair fair beautifull Jesus were come to the bloom the flower near your hook I would not write this but seeing time ' threed is short ye are upon the entry of heaven's harvest Christ the field of heaven's glory is white ripe-like the losses that I write of to your La are but summer-showers that will onely wet your garments for an hour or two and the Sun of the new Ierusalem shall quickly dry the wet coat especially seeing rains of Affliction cannot stain the image of God or cause Grace cast the colour And since ye will not alter upon him who will not change upon you I durst in weakness think my self no spiritual Seer if I should not prophesie that day-light is neer when such a morning-darkness is upon you that this trial of your Christian minde towards him whom ye dare not leave howbeit he should slay you shall close with a doubled mercy It is time for faith to hold fast as much of Christ as ever ye had to make the grip stronger to cleave closer to him seeing Christ loveth to be beleeved in trusted to The glory of laying strength upon one that is mighty to save is more then we can think That piece of service of beleeving in a smiting Redeemer is a precious part of obedience O what glory to him to lay over the burden of our heaven upon him that purchased for us an eternal Kingdom O blessed soul who can adore kiss his lovely free Grace The rich grace of Christ be with your spirit St. Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Yours at all obedience in Christ Iesus S. R. To AGNES MCMATH 38 Dear Sister IF our Lord hath taken away your childe your lease of him is expired seeing Christ would want him no longer it is your part to hold your peace worship adore the soveraignty liberty that the potter hath over the clay pieces of clay-nothings that he gave life unto And what is man to call summond the Almighty to his lower Court down here For he giveth account of none of his doings And if ye will take a loan of a childe give him back again to our Lord laughing as his borrowed goods should return to him beleeve he is not gone away but sent before that the change of the countrey should make you think he is not lost to you who is found to Christ that he is now before you that the dead in Christ shall be raised again A going down star is not annihilat but shall appeare again If he have casten his bloom flower the bloom is fallen
of God are unsavoury The wind of thy mouth though accompanied with all the venome thou canst vomit up will not blast the Authors reputation it will onely be a blazing of thy own shame then thou wilt see thy self so unhappy as to have hit the marke at which thou didst not aime For without doing him any hurt who is far above thy reach thy tongue falls upon thy own head in striking at one whom thou canst not wound thy sword rebounds back upon thy self enters into thine own bowells but if thou remainest a man of imperswasion hast so much pleasure in publishing thine own shame I cannot help it it is sufficient for me to have warned thee of thy hazard nor shall I endeavour hence forth to deprive the world of their liberty since thou wilt have it so to look upon thee according to the character which thou hast given of thy self that is Deest aliquid intus to make the a man a Christian since this Brutish shape pleases thee thou mayest goe eat grasse let alone this bread which is onely designed for Children And so I leave thee to make use of that liberty of saying what thou pleases which thou hast now purchased with the loss of thy own reputation If any think it had been more convenient to have concealed the names of these to whom the Author wrote for some reasons obvious in regard of the present Lamentable posture of affairs when it is almost sufficent to make a man guilty that ever he was really zealous for God I have onely this to say for my self that I designed their honour not their prejudice nor hurt in prefixing their names Neither can I well imagine what ever others may apprehend what prejudice they can sustain by this since none or very few of them come from the Author as returns to any thing they had written to him there being no law either discharging him to write or any persons to receive his letters there can be no transgression upon their part so nothing to ground a prejudice or found a rational plea against them And much less in that their names are prefixed or if there be any thing in this blame worthy I alone am in the transgression who have done it without consulting themselves or asking their consent yet in order to the satisfaction of any who may be offended at what is done I have this to say for my self further that I was induced to it first that thereby it might appear these were indeed the very Letters which that faithfull sufferer witness of Jesus Christ wrote though there is sufficient in the stile straine to put this beyond debat no forgeries 2. many of these worthy persons being removed whereby the Church of God is at a seen sad loss in that she is deprived of so many who would have weeped made supplication on her behalfe in this day of her distress when not a few of her friends have dealt treacherously with her are become her enemies their Posterity might think themselves wronged if I should have deprived their worthy Predecessors by suppressing their names smothering their affection to the work of God of the honour of making their faithfullness known to the world And truely I judged it the least that was due to the memory of these who ought to be had in everlasting remembrance to erect this poor monument over their grave wherby they may live amongst the posterity when they are gone as persons who obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull in their generation that when the account of such comes to be taken it may be said this that man was borne there 3. I did it to encourage the posterity of such to be followers of the faith patience of their worthy progeâ—â—tors and that the may not without shame horrour think of declining or turning aside either to the right or left hand from the way of these dear relations who by following the Lord fully in an evil time left them a noble Paterne worthy of imitation 4. As for such who are yet alive I hope they will think that God by this Providence is making a honourable mention of their fidelity before the nations is remembring for them the Love of their espousals when they went after him thereby to ingage them to cleave more closely adhere more firmely to him with full purpose of heart when the generality have gadded about to change their way many of his professed disciples have gone back are like to walk no more with him And upon the other hand God will have this to be a witness before the world against any of them who shall depart from the good way of the Lord be offended in him because of persecution I hope what ever hazard threaten these who abide in Christs company that they will never forsake him nor give him cause to say what iniquity have ye found in me that ye are gone far from me But if it should prove otherwise they may be sure that he whose soul hath no pleasure in any man that draws back hats the work of such as turne aside will count himself ingaged in a peculiar way to lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but we hope for better things of them all though we thus speak If none of these reasons which moved me to doe this be strong enough then let it be judged my weakness for it is more fit that I should pass in the world as such which is no great mistake then these honourable worthy persons should suffer any prejudice by a deed whereto they had not the least accession Reader much pains hath been taken in collecting these together that they might be in the hands of many a thing greatly desired of a long time by the godly which have been hitherto onely in some broken imperfect parcells in the hands of a few Severall of the most correct copies that could be had have been carefully compared many fruits therby corrected which were crept in by their being often transcribed that by unskillfull hands If it fall out so as I suppose it shall not often be found that they who have the Autographs by them perceive any difference in a word or senteÌ„ce betwixt this printed copy these let them imput it to my want of he principals for though I had a good number of them yet it was not possible for me to get the most part In some very few places also to the end that this book might be of more universall use it may be that a scottish word which would have darkned the sense or rendered the sentence wholly unintelligble to strangers is either changed into some equivalent one or a synonimous terme inserted by it but in most places these words are retained without any alteration because either alteration or addition would have made them less taking with
that it shall not be your wisdom to spier out another Christ another way of worshiping him then is now savingly revealed to you Therfore though I never saw your faces let me be pardoned to write to you ye honourable persons ye faithfull Pastors yet amongst the flocks and ye sincere professors of Christs truth or any weak tired strayers who cast but halfe an eye after the bridegroom if possibly I could by any weak experience confirme and strengthen you in this good way every where spoken against I can with greatest assurance to the honour of our highest greatest dearest Lord let it be spoken assert though I be but a child in Christ and scarce able to walk but by a hold the meanest and lesse then the least of Saints that we doe not come nigh by twentie degrees to the due love estimation of that fairest among the sons of men for if it were possible that heaven yea ten heavens were laid in the ballance with Christ I would think the smell of his breath above them all sure I am he is the far best halfe of heaven yea he is all heaven and more then all heaven my testimonie of him is that ten lives of black sorrow ten deaths ten hells of pain ten furnaces of brimstone and all exquisit torments were all too little for Christ if our suffering could be a hire to buy him and therefore faint not in your sufferings hasards for him I proclaim cry hell sorrow and shame upon all lusts upon all by-lovers that would take Christs room over his head in this little inch of love of these narrow souls of ours that is due to sweetest Jesus O highest O fairest O dearest Lord Jesus take thine ovvn from all bastard lovers O that vve could wodset sell all our part of times glory and times good things for a lease tack of Christ for all eternitie O how are we misted and mired with the love of things that are in this side of time and in this side of deaths water where can we finde a match to Christ or an equal or a better then he among created things Oh this world is out of all conceit all love with our welbeloved O that I could sell my laughter joy ease and all for him and be content of a straw-bed and btead by weight water by measure in the camp of our weeping Christ I knovv his sackcloth and ashes are better then the fools laughter which is like the crackling of thornes under a pot But alace we doe not harden our faces against the cold north stormes which blow upon Christs fair face we love well summer religion to be that which Sin hath made us even as thin skinned as if we were made of white paper would fain be carried to heaven in a clâ—sse covered chariot wishing from our hearts that Christ vvould give us suretie his hand vvrite his seal for nothing but a fair summer untill we be landed in at heavens gates hovv many of us have been here deceived fainted in the day of tryall amongst you there are some of this Stamp I shall be sorrie if my acquantance A. T. hath left you I vvill not beleeve he dare stay from Christs side I desire that ye shevv him this from me for I loved him once in Christ neither can I change my mind suddenly of him But the truth is that many both of you too many also of your neighbour church of Scotland have been like a rennent that sitteth mealfree knovveth not his holding while his rights be questioned and now I am persvvaded it vvil be asked at every one of us on what terms vve brooke Christ for we have sitten long meal-free vve found Christ vvithout a vvett foot and He and his gospel came upon small charges to our Doors but now we must wet our feet to seeke him our evil manners and the bad fashions of a people at ease from our youth and like Moab not casten from vessell to vessel Jer. 48 11. hes made us like standing waters to gather a foul scumme when we are jumbled our dregs come up are seen many take but halfe a grip of Christ the wind bloweth them Christ asunder indeed when the mast is broken blown in the sea it is ane art then to swim upon Christ to drie land 't is even possible that the children of God in a hard triall lay them selves down as hidden in the lea-side of a bush vvhile Christ their master be taken as Peter did lurke there while the storme be overpast all of us knovv the vvay to a vvhole skin the singlest heart that is hath a by-purse that vvill contian the deniall of Christ a fearâ—ull backslding O hovv rare a thing is it to be loyall honest to Christ vvhen he hath a controversie vvth the sheelds of the earth I vvish all of you would consider that this triall is from Christ it is come upon you unbought indeed when we buy a tentation with our own money no marvel that we be not easily free of it and that God be not at our elbow to take it off our hand this is Christs ordinarie house-fire that he maks use of to try all the vessells of his house Withall Christ now is about to bring his treasure out before sun moon to tell his money in the telling to try what vveight of gold vvhat vveight of vvatered copper is in his house Doe not novv jouke or bovv or yeeld to your adversaries in a hairbreadth Christ and his truth vvill not divide his truth hath not latitude breadth that ye may take some of it leave other some of it nay the gospel is like a small hair that hath no breadth vvil not cleave in tvvo it is not possible to tryste compound a matter betvvixt Christ Antichrist therefore ye must either be for Christ or ye must be against him It vvas but mans vvit the vvit of Prelats their god father the Pope that man without law to put Christ his prerogatives royall his truth or the smallest nail-breadth of his latter vvil in the nevv kalendar of Indifferencies to make a blank of un-inked paper in Christs Testament that men may fill up so shufle the truth maters they call indifferent thorovv other spin both together that the Antichrists vvares may sell the better this is but the device forged dream of men vvhose consciences are made of stoutnesse have a throat that a graven image greater then the bounds of the Kirk door vvould give free passage unto I am sure vvhen Christ shall bring us all out in our black 's vvhit's at that day when he shall cry down time and the world when the glory of it shall lie in white ashes like a may flower cut down having lost the blosome there shall be
is waiting hovering lingering at Gods command that ye may be prepared Then ye had need to stir you time to take eternity death to your riper advisment a wrong step oâ— a wrong stot in going out of this life in one property is like the sin against the holy Ghost can never be forgiven because ye cannot come back again thorow the last water to mourn for it I know your counts are many and will take telling and laying reckoning betwixt you and your Lord fit your counts and order them lose not the last play what ever ye doe for in that play with death your precious soul is the prize for the Lords sake spill not the play lose not such a treasure Ye know out of love I had to your soul and out of desire I had to make an honest count for you I testified my displeasure and disliking of your wayes very often both in privat publike I am not now a witness of your doings but your judge is alwayes your witness I beseech you by the mercies of God by the salvation of your soul by your comforts when your eye strings shall break the face wax pale the soul shall tremble to be out of the lodging of clay and by your compearance before your awfull Judge after the sight of this letter take a new course with your wayes and now in the end of your day make sure of heaven examine your self if ye be in good earnest in Christ for some Heb. 6. 4. are partakers of the holy Ghost taste of the good word of God of the powers of the life to come yet have no part in Christ at all Many think they beleeve but never tremble the devils are further on then these Jam. 2 19. Make sure to your self that ye are above ordinary professors the sixth part of your span-length and hand-breadth of dayes is scarcely before you Haste haste for the tide will not bide Put Christ upon all your accounts your secrets Better it is that ye give him your counts in this life out of your own hand then that after this life he take them from you I never knew so well what sin was as since I came to Aberden howbeit I was preaching of it to you To feel the smoke of hel's fire in the throat for half an hour to stand beside a river of fire brimstone broader then the earth and to think to be bound hand foot casten in the midst of it quick then to have God locking the prison door never to be opened for all eternity O how will it shake a conscience that hath any life in it I finde the fruits of my pains to have Christ and that people once fairly met now meeteth my soul in my sad hours I rejoyce that I gave fair warning of all the corruptions now entring in Christs house and now many a sweet sweet soft kisse many perfumed well smelled kisses embracements have I received of my royall Master He I have had much love together I have for the present a sick dwining life with much pain much love-sickness for Christ O what I would give to have a bed made to my wearied soul in his bosome I would frist heaven for many yeers to have my fill of Jesus in this life to have occasion to offer Christ to my people to wooe many people to Christ. I cannot tell you what sweet pain and delight some torments are in Christs love I often challenge time that holdeth us sundry I profess to you I have no rest I have no ease while I be over head ears in lov's-ocean if Christs love that fountain of delight were laid as open to me as I would wish O how would I drink and drink abundantly O how drunken would this my soul be I half call his absence cruell and the mask vaile on Christs face a cruell covering that hideth such a fair fair face from a sick soul. I dare not challenge himself but his absence is a mountain of iron upon my heavie heart O when will we meet O how long is it to the dawning of the marriage-day O sweet Lord Jesus take wide steps O my Lord come over mountains at one stride O my beloved flee like a roe or young hart upon the mountains of separation O if he would fold the heavens together like an old cloak shovle time and dayes out of the way make ready in haste the lambs wife for her husband Since he looked upon me my heart is not mine own he hath run away to heaven with it I know it was not for nothing that I spake so meekle good of Christ to you in publike O if the heaven the heaven of heavens were paper and the sea inke the multitude of mountains pens of brasse I were able to write that paper within and without full of the praises of my fairest my dearest my loveliest my sweetest my matchless and my most marrowlesse and marvellous welbeloved woe is me I cannot set him out to men Angels O there are few tongues to sing love-songs of his incomparable excellency what can I poor prisoner doe to exalt him or what course can I take to extoll my lofty lovely Lord Jesus I am put to my wits end how to get his name made great Blessed they who would help me in this how sweet are Christs back-parts O what then is in his face These that see his face how dow they get their eyeplucked off him again Lookup to him and love him O love and live It were life to me ifye would read this letter to that people if they did profit by it O if I could cause them die of love for Jesus I charge them by the salvation of their souls to hang about Christs neck take their fill of his love follow him as I taught them part by no means with Christ hold fast what ye have received Keep the truth once delivered If ye or that people quite it in an hair or in an hoof ye break your conscience in twain and who then can mend it and cast a knot on it my dearest in the Lord stand fast in Christ Keep the faith contend for Christ wrestle for him take mens feud for Gods favour there is no comparison betwixt these O that my Lord would fulfill my joy and keep the young bride to Christ that is at Anwoth And now whoever they be that have returned to the old vomit since my departure I binde upon their back in my masters name authority the long-lasting weighty vengeance and curse of God in my Lords name I give them a doom of black unmixed pure wrath which my master shall ratifie and make good when we stand together before him except they timously repent and turn to the Lord. And I write to thee poor mourning and broken hearted beleever be who thou will of
the free salvation Christs sweet balme for thy wounds O poor humble beleever Christs kisses for thy watery checks Christs blood of atonement for thy guilty soul Christs heaven for thy poor soul though once banished out of paradise my master shall make good my word ere long O that people were wise O that people were wise O that people would spier out Christ never est while they finde him O how shall my soul mourn in secret if my nine yeers pained head sore breast and pained back and grieved heart and privat publike prayers to God shall all be for nothing among that people Did my Lord Jesus send me but to summond you before your judge to leave your summonds at your houses was I sent as a witness onnly to gather your dittay's O my God forbid often did I tell you of a fan of Gods word to come among you for the contempt of it I told you often of wrath wrath from the Lord to come upon Scotland and yet I bide by my Masters word it is quickly coming desolation for Scotland because of the quarrell of a broken covenant Now worthy Sir now my dear people my joy and my crown in the Lord let him be your fear seek the Lord and his face save your souls doves flee to Christs windows pray for me praise for me The blessing of my God the prayers and blessing of a poor prisoner and your lawfull pastor be upon you Abrd. Iune 16. 1367. Your Lawfull Loving Pastor S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady BOYD. 15 MADAM GRace mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ I cannot but thank your La for your Letter that hath refreshed my soul. I think my self many wayes obliged to your La for your love to my afflicted brother now embarked with me in that same cause his Lord hath been pleased to put him upon truths side I hope your La will befriend him with your counsell and countenance in that countrey where he is a stranger your La needeeth not fear but your kindness to his own shall be put up in Christs accounts Now Madam for your La case I rejoyce exceedingly that the Father of lights hath made you see that there is a niâ—â— in Christianity which ye contend to be at that is to quit the right eye the right hand to keep the Son of God I hope your desire is to make him your garland your eye looketh up the mount which certainly is nothing but the new creature fear not Christ will not cast water upon your smoaking coal then who else dare doe it if he say nay Be sorry at corruption not secure that companion lay with you in your mothers womb was as early friends with you as the breath of life Christ will not have it otherwise for he delighteth to take up fallen bairns to mend broken browâ— binding up of wounds is his office Isai. 61. First I am glad Christ will get employment of his calling in you many a whole soul is in heaven which was sicker then ye are He is content ye lay broken arms legs on his knee that he may spelk them 2. Hiding of his face is wise love his love is not fond doting reasonless to give your head no other pillow while ye be in at heavens gates but to lie betwixt his brests lean upon his bosome Nay hisbairns must often have the frosty cold side of the hill set down both their bare feet among thorns His love hath eyes in the mean time is looking on Our pride must have winter weather to rot it But I know Christ ye shall not be heard ye will whisper it over betwixt your selves agree again for the Anchor-tow abideth fast within the vaile the end of it is in Chrssts ten fingers who dare pull if he hold I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying fear not I will help thee Isa. 41 13. fear not Iacob The sea-sick passenger shall come to Land Christ will be the first that will meet you on the shore I hope your La will keep the Kings high-way goe on in the strength of the Lord in haste as if ye had not leisure to speak to the Inne-keepers by the way he is over beyond time in the other side of the water who thinketh long for you For my unfaithfull self Madam I must say a word At my first coming hither the devil made many black lies of my Lord Jesus said the court was changed and he was angry would give an evil servant his leave at mid-terme but he gave me grace not to take my leave I resolved to bide summonds and sit howbeit it was suggested said what should be done with a withered tree but over the dâ—ke with it But now now I dare not I dow not keep it up who is feasted as his poor exiled prisoner I think shame of the board-head the first messe the royall Kings dining-hall and that my black hand should come on such a rulers table but I cannot mend it Christ must have his will onely he paineth my soul so sometimes with his love that I have been nigh to passe modesty to cry out he hath lest a smoaking burning coal in my heart gone to the door himself and left me it together yet it is not desertion I know not what it is but I was never so sick for him as now I durst not challenge my Lord if I got no more for heaven it is a dâting crosse I know he hath other thing to doe then to play with me trâ—â—le an apple with me that this feast will end O for instruments in Gods name that this is he and that I may make use of it when it will be a neer friend within me when it will be said by a challengingdevil were is my God Since I know it will not laste I desire but to keep broken meat but let no man after me slander Christ for his crosse The Great Lord of the Covenant who brought from the dead the great shepherd of his sheep by the blood of the eternall covenant establish you and keep you yours to his appearance Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr ALEXANDER HENDERSON 16 My reverend dear Brother I Received your Letters They are as apples of gold to me for wich my sweet feasts they are above the deserving of such a sinner high out of measure I have sadness to ballast me weight me a little It is but his boundless wisdom who hath taken the tutouring of his witlesse childe and he knoweth to be drunken with comforts is not safest for our stomackes However it be the din and noise and glooms of Christs crosse are weightier then it self I protest to you my witnesse is in heaven I
could wish many pound weights added to my crosse to know that by sufferings Christ were set forward in his kingly office in this Land Oh what is my skin to his glory Or my losses or my sad heart to the apple of the eye of our Lord his beloved spouse his precious truth his royal priviledges the glory of manifested justice in giving of his foes a dash the testimony of his faithfull servants who doe glorifie him when he rideth upon poor weak wormes triumpheth in them I desire you to pray that I may come out of this furnace with honesty that I may leave Christs truth no worse then I found it that this most honourable cause may neither be stained nor weakned As for your case my Reverend and Dearest Brother ye are the talking of the North and South looked to so as if ye were all crystall glasse your mots and dust should soon be proclaimed trumpets blowne at your slips But I know ye have laid help upon one that is mighty Intrust not your comforts to mens airy frothy applause neither lay your down-castings on the tongues of salt mockers reproachers of godliness As deceivers yet true as unknown yet well known God hath called you to Christs side and the wind is now on Christs face in this land and seeing ye are with him ye cannot expect the lee-side or the sunny-side of the brae But I know ye have resolved to take Christ upon any termes whatsoever I hope ye doe not rue though your cause be hated that prejudices are taken up against it The shields of the world think our Master cumbersome wares that he maketh too great din that his cords and yoks make blains deep scores in their neck therefore they kick they say this man shall not reigne over us Let us pray one for another He who hath made you a chosen arrow in his quiver hide you in the hollow of his hand I am Aberd. March 9. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LOWDON 17 MY very noble honourable Lord Grace mercy and peace be to you I make bold to write to your Lo that you may know the honourable cause ye are graced to prosesse is Christs own truth Ye are many wayes blessed of God who hath taken upon you to come out to the strects with Christ on your fore-head when so many are ashamed of him and hide him as it were under their cloak as if he were a stolen Christ. If this faithless generation and especially the Nobles of this Kingdom thought not Christ dear wares and Religion expensive hazardous and dangerous they would not slip from his cause as they doe and stand looking on with their hands folded behinde their back when lowns are running away with the spoile of Sion on their back and the boards of the Son of Gods tabernacle Law and Justice are to be had to any especially for money moyen but Christ can get no law good cheap nor dear It were the glory and honour of you who are the Nobles of this land to plead for your wronged bridegroom and his oppressed Spouse as far as zeal standing law will goe with you Your ordinary logicke from the event that it will doe no good to the cause and therefore silence is best till the Lord put to his own hand it is not with reverence of your Lo Learning worth a straw Events are Gods let us doe and not plead against Gods Office let him sit at his own helme who moderateth all events It is not a good course to complain that we cannot get a providence of gold when our lasiness cold zeal temporizing and faithless fearfulness spilleth good providence Your Lo will pardon me I am not of that minde that tumults or armes is the way to put Christ on his throne or that Christ will be served truth vindicated onely with the arme of flesh and blood nay Christ doeth his turn with lesse din then with garments rolled in blood But I would the zeal of God were in the Nobles to doe their part for Christ and I must be pardoned to write to your Lo this I dow not I dare not but speak to others what God hath done to the soul of his poor afflicted exiled prisoner his comfort is more then I ever knew before he hath sealed the honourable cause I now suffer for I shall not beleeve that Christ will put his Amen ring upon an imagination he hath made all his promises good to me and hath filled up all the blanks with his own hand I would not exchange my bonds with the plaistered joy of this whole world It hath pleased him to make a sinner the like of me an ordinary banquetter in his house of wine with that royall Princely one Christ Jesus O what weighing O what telling is in his love how sweet must he be when that black and Burdensome tree his own crosse is so perfumed with joy and gladness O for help to lift him up by praises on his royall throne I seek no more but that his name may be spread abroad in me that meekle good may be spoken of Christ on my behalf this being done my losses place stipend credit case and Liberty shall all be made up to my full contentment and joy of heart I will be confident your Lo Will goe on in the strength of the Lord and keep Christ avouch him that he may read your name publikly before men Angels I wil entreat your Lo to exhort encourage that Nobleman your Chief to doe the same but I am woe many of you finde a new wisdom which deserveth nor such a name it were better that men should see that their wisdom be holy their holiness wise I must be bold to desire your Lo To adde to your former favours to me for the which your Lo hath a prisoners blessing prayers this that ye would be pleased to befriend my brother now suffering for the same cause For he is to dwell nigh your Lo Bounds your Lo word countenance may help him Thus recommending your Lo to the saving grace tender mercy of Christ Jesus our Lord. I rest Aberd. March 9. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant in Christ S. R. To Mr. WILLIAM DALGLISH Minister of the Gospel 18 Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am well my Lord Jesus is Kinder to me then ever he was it pleaseth him to dine sup with his afflicted prisoner a King feasteth me and his spiknard casteth a sweet smell Put Christs love to the triall and put upon it burdens then it will appear love indeed we employ not his love therefore we know it not I verily count more of the sufferings of my Lord then of this worlds lustred overguilded glory I dare not say but my Lord Jesus hath fully recompensed my sadness with
me now so as God maketh an honest cross my daily sorrow and for fear of scandal and stumbling I must hide this day of the law 's pleading I know not if this court kept within my soul be fenced in Christ's name If certainty of salvation were to be bought God knoweth if I had ten earths I would not prig with God like a fool I beleeved under suffering for Christ that I my self should keep the key of Christ's treasures and take out comforts when I listed and eat and be fat But I see now a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself and will be holden at the door as well as another poor sinner and will be fain to eat with the bairns and to take the by-board and glad so my blessing on the cross of Christ that hath made me see this Oh if we could take pains for the Kingdom of heaven but we sit down upon some ordinary markes of God's children thinking we have as much as will seperat us from a Reprobat and thereupon we tak the play and cry Holy-day thus the devil casteth water on our fire blunteth our zeal and care but I see heaven is not at the next door I see howbeit my challenges be many I suffer for Christ dare hazard my salvation upon it for some times my Lord cometh with a fair hour O but his love be sweet delightfull comfortable half a kiss is sweet but our doting love will not be content of a right to Christ unless we get posfession like the man who will not be content of rights to bought land except he get also the ridges and acers laid upon his back to carry home with him However it be Christ is wise and we are fools to be browden and fond of a pawne in the loof of our hand living on trust by faith may well content us Madam I know your La knoweth this and that made me bold to write of it that others might reap some what by my bonds for the truth for I should desire and I aime at this to have my lord well spoken of and honoured howbeit he should make nothing of me but a bridge over a water Thus recommending your La your son and children to his grace who hath honoured you with a name and room among the living in Jerusalem and wishing Grace to be with your La I rest Aberd. Your La in his sweetest Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. DAVID DICKSON 21 Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be unto you I finde great men especially old friends skar to speak for me but my kingly Royall Master biddeth me try his moyen to the uttermost I shall finde a friend at hand I still depend on him his court is as before the prisoner is welcome to him the black crabbed tree of my Lord's cross hath made Christ and my soul very entire he is my song in the night I am often laid in the dust with challenges and apprehensions of his anger and then if a mountain of iron were laid upon me I cannot be heavier and with much wrestling I win in to the Kings house of wine and for the most part my life is joy and such joy through his comforts as I have been afraid to shame my self and to cry out for I can scarce bear what I get Christ giveth me a measure heaped up pressed down and running over and beleeve it his love paineth me more then prison and banishment I cannot get a gate of Christ's love had I known what he was keeping for me I would never have been so faint-hearted In my heaviest times when all is lost the memory of his love maketh me think Christ's gloomes are but for the fashion I seek no more but a vent to my wine I am smothered and ready to burst for want of a vent Think not much of persecution it is before you but it is not as men conceive of it my suggared-cross forceth me to say this to you ye shall have wailed meat the sick bairn is often times the spilt baâ—rn ye shall command all the house I hope ye help a tired prisoner to pray and praise had I but the annuell of annuell to give to my Lord Jesus it should ease my pain but Alace I have nothing to pay he will get nothing of poor me but I am woe I have not room enough in my heart for such a stranger I am not cast down to goe further North I have good cause to work for my Master for I am well paid before the hand I am not behinde howbeit I should not get one smile more till my feet be up within the Kings dining-hall I have gone through yours upon the Covenant it hath edified my soul and refreshed an hungry man I judge it sharp sweet quick and profound take me at my word I fear it get no lodging in Scotland The Brethren of Ireland write not to me chide with them for that I am sure that I may give you and them a commission and I will bide by it that you tell my beloved I am sick of love I hope in God to leave some of my rust and superfluites in Aberd I cannot get an house in this town wherein to leave drink-silver in my Master's name save one onely there is no sale for Christ in the North he is like to lie long on my hand ere any accept him Grace be with you Aberd. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 22 REverend and dear brother I am a very far misstaken man if others knew how poor my stock were they would not think upon the like of me but with compassion for I am as one kept under a strict Tutour I would have more then my Tutour alloweth upon me but it is good that a bairns wit is not the rule which regulateth my Lord Jesus let him give what he will it shall ay be above merit my ability to gain therewith I would not wish a better stock while heaven be my stock then to live upon credit at Christs hands daily borrowing surely running over love that vast hudge boundlesse love of Christ that there is telling in for man and Angel is the onely thing I fainest would be in hands with He knoweth I have little but the love of that love that I shall be happy suppose I never get another heaven but onely an eternall lasting feast of that love but suppose my wishes were poor He is not poor Christ all the seasons of the yeer is dropping sweetnesse if I had vessels I might fill them but my old riven holly and running out dish even when I am at the well can bring little away Nothing but Glory will make tight and fast our looking and rifty vessels Alace I have skailed more of Christs Grace love faith humility and godly sorrow then I have brought with me How little of the sea can a childe carry in his hand as little
dow I take away of my great sea my boundlesse Runing-over-Christ-Jesus I have not lighted upon the right gate of puting Christ to the banke making my self rich with him my misguiding and childish trafficking with that matchlesse pearl That heaven's jewell the jewell of the fathers delights hath put me to a great losse O that he would take a loan of me my stock and put his name in all my bonds and serve himself Heir to the poor mean portion I have be countable for the talent himself gladly would I put Christ in my room to guide all and let me be but a servant to run errands doe by his direction let me be his interdicted heir Lord Jesus work upon my minority let him win a pupil's blessing Oh how would I rejoyce to have this work of my salvation legally fastned upon Christ a back-bond of my Lord Jesus that it should be forthcoming to the Orphan should be my happinesse dependency on Christ were my surest way if Christ were my bottome I were sure enough I thought guiding of grace had been no art I thought it would come of will but I would spill my own heaven yet if I had not burdened Christ with All I but lend my bare name to the sweet covenant Christ behinde before on either side maketh all sure God will not take an Arminian-cautioner Freewill a weather-cock turning at a serpents tongue a Tutor that couped our father Adam unto us brought down the house sold the Land sent the father mother all the bairns through the earth to beg their bread nature in the Gospel hath cracked credit O well to my poor soul for evermore that my Lord called grace to the councel put Christ Jesus with free merits the blood of God foremost in the chase to draw sinners after a ransomer O what a sweet block was it by way of buying selling to give and tell down a ransome for grace glory to Dyvours O would to my Lord I could cause paper and ink speak the worth and excellencie the high loud praises of a Brother-ransomer O the Ransomer needs not my report but oh if he would take it make use of it I should be happy if I had an errand to this world but for some few yeers to spread proclamations out-crys love-letters of the highnes the highnes for evermore the glory the glory for evermore of the Ransomer whose cloaths were wet died in blood howbeit that after I had done that my soul body should goe back to the mother nothing that their Creator brought them once out from as from their beginning But why should I pine away and pain my self with wishes not beleeve rather that Christ will hire such an out-cast as I am a masterlesse-body put out of the house by the sons of my mother give me employment and a calling one way or other to out Christ and his wares to countrey buyers propose Christ unto presse him upon some poor souls that fainer then their life would receive him You complain heavily of your short coming in practice and venturing on suffering for Christ you have many marrowes For the first I would not put you off sense of wretcheduesse hold on Christ never yet slew a sighhing groaning childe more of that would make you won goods and a meet prey for Christ Alace I have too little of it For venturing on suffering I had not somuch free gier when I came to Christs camp as to buy a sword a wonder that Christ should not laugh at such a souldier I am no better yet but faith liveth spendeth upon our Captains charges who is able to pay for all we need not pitie him he is rich enough Ye desire me also not to mistake Christ under a mask I blesse you thank God for it but alace masked or bare-faced kissing or glooming I mistake him yea I mistake him furthest when the mask is off for then I play me with his sweetness I am like a childe that hath a golden book that playeth more with the ribbens and the guilding the picture in the first page then readeth the contents of it Certainly if my desires to my welbeloved were fulfilled I could provoke divels and crosses the world tentations to the fields but oh my poor weakness makes me lie behinde the bush and hide me Remember my service and my blessing to my Lord I am mindfull of him as I am able desire him from a prisoner to come visite my good master feel but the smell of his love it sets him well howbeit he be young to make Christ his garland I could not wish him in a better case then in a fever of love-sickness for Christ Remember my bonds the Lord Iesus be with your spirit Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM HALLIDAY 23 Loving friend I Received your letter I wish ye take pains for salvation mistaken grace somewhat like conversion which is not conversion is the sadest and most dolefull thing in the world make sure of salvation and Lay the foundation sure for many are beguiled Put a low price upon world's clay put a high price upon Christ temptations will come but if they be not made welcome by you ye have the best of it be jealous over your self your own heart and keep touches with God let him not have a faint and feeble souldier of you fear not to back Christ for he will conquer and overcome let no man skar at Christ for I have no quarrels at his crosse He and his crosse are two good guests and worth the lodging men would fain have Christ good cheap but the mercat will not come down acquaint your self with prayer make Christ your captain and your armour make conscience of sinning when no eye seeth you grace be with you Aberd. Yours in Ch Iesus S. R. To a Gentle Woman after the Death of her Husband 24 DEar loving sister I know ye are minding your sweet countrey not taking your Innes the place of your banishmet for your home this life is not worthy to be the thatch or outer wall of your Lord Jesus his paradise that he did sweat for to you that he keepeth for you Short silly sand-blinde were our hope if it could not look over the water to our best heritage and if it stayed only at home about the doors of our clay-house I marvel not my dear sister that ye complain that ye come short of your old wrestlings you had for a blessing and that now you finde it not so bairns are but hired to learn their lesson when they first goe to school and it is enough that these who run a race see the gold onely at the starting place and possibly they see little more of it or nothing at all till they win to the rink's-end and get the gold
reverence of him ho liveth for ever ever Christ buried rotten among the worms we might have cause to look like dead folks but the Lord liveth blessed be the rock of our salvation Psal. 18 46. None have right to joy but we for joy is sown for us an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop The children of this world have much robbed joy that is not well come It is no good sport they laugh at They steall joy as it were from God for he commandeth them to mourn howle Then let us claim our â—eel-come lawfully conquished joy My dear Brother I cannot but speak what I have felt seeing my Lord Jesus hath broken a box of spikenard upon the head of his poor prisoner it is hard to hide a sweet smell it is pain to smother Christs love it will be out whether we will or not If we did but speak according to the matter a cross for Christ should have another name yea a cross especially when he cometh with his arms full of joyes is the happiest hard tree that ever was laid upon my weak shoulders Christ his cross together are sweet company a blessed couple My prison is my palace my sorrow is with childe of joy my losses are rich losses my pain easie pain my heavie dayes are holy happy dayes I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friend Oh if I could make a love-song of him could commend Christ tune his praises aright O if I could set all tongues in great Britain Ireland to work to help me to sing a new song of my welbeloved O if I could be a bridge over a water for my Lord Jesus to walk upon keep his feet dry O if my poor bit heaven could goe betwixt my Lord blasphemy dishonour upon condition he loved me O that my heart could say this word bide by it for ever Is it not great art incomparable wisdom in my Lord who can bring forth such fair apples out of this crabbed tree of the cross nay my fathers never enough admired providence can make a fair feast out of a black Devil nothing can come wrong to my Lord in his sweet working I would even fall sound a sleep in Christs arms my sinful head on his holy breast while he kisseth me were is not that often the wind turneth to the north whiles my sweet Lord Jesus is that he will neither give nor take borrow nor lend with me I complain he is not social I half call him proud lordly of his company nice of his lookes which yet is not true It would content me to give howbeit he should not take I should be content to want his kisses at such times providing he would be content to come near hand take my wersh dry feckless kisses But at that time he will not be entreated but lets a poor soul stand still knock never let it on him that he heareth then the old leavings broken meat dry sighs are greater chear then I can tell all I have then is that howbeit the law wrath have gotten a decret against me I yet lippen that meekle good in Christ as to get a suspension to bring my cause in reasoning again before my welbeloved I desire but to be heard And at last he is content to come agree the matter with a fool forgive freely because he is God Oh if men would glorify him taste of Christs sweetness Brother ye have need to be busie with Christ for this whorish-Kirk I fear Christ cast water upon Scotlands coal nay I know Christ his wife will be heard he will plead for the broken covenant Arme you against that time Grace be with you Aberd. June 16 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Kilconqhuair 29. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that you have your face home-ward towards your fathers house now when so many are for a home nearer hand but your Lord calleth you to another life glory then is to be found here-away therefore I would counsel you to make sure the charters rights which ye have to Salvation You came to this life about a necessary weighty business to tryst with Christ anent your precious soul the eternal salvation of it this is the most necessary business ye have in this life your other adoés beside this are but toyes feathers dreams fancies this is the greatest haste should be done first Means are used in the Gospel to draw on a meeting betwixt Christ you if ye neglect your part of it it is as if you would tear the contract before Christ's eyes give up the match that there shall be no more communing of that business I know other lovers beside Christ are in suit of you your soul wanteth not many wooers but I pray you make a chaste virgin of your soul let it love but one most worthy is Christ alone of all your souls love howbeit your love were higher then the heaven deeper then the lowest of this earth broader then this world many alas too many make a common strumpet of their soul for every lover that cometh to the house Marriage with Christ would put your love your heart by the gate out of the way out of the eyes of all other unlawfull suiters then you had a ready answer for all others I am already promised away to Christ the match is concluded my soul hath a husband already it cannot have two husbands Oh if the world did but know what a smel the ointments of Christ cast and how ravishing his beauty even the beauty of the fairest of the sons of men is how sweet powerful his voice is the voice of that one welbeloved Certainly where Christ cometh he runneth away with the souls love so that they cannot command it I would far rather look but thorow the hole of Christs door to see but the one half of his fairest most comely face for he looketh like heaven suppose I should never win in to see his excellency glory to the full then to enjoy the flower the bloome chiefest excellency of the glory riches of ten worlds Lord send me for my part but the meanest share of Christ that can be given to any of the indwellers of the new Jerusalem But I know my Lord is no niggard He can it becometh him well to give more then my narrow soul can receive If there were ten thousand thousand millions of worlds as many heavens full of men Angels Christ would not be pinched to supply all our wants and to fill us all Christ is a well of life but who knoweth how deep it is to the bottom This soul of ours hath love and cannot but love some fair
put to exercise I kept low Worthy dear Brother in our Lord Jesus I write that from my heart which ye now read 1. I avouch that Christ sweating sighing under his cross is sweeter to me by far then all the Kingdoms in the world could possibly be 2. If you my dearest acquaintance in Christ reap any fruit by my sufferring let me be weighed in God's even ballance if my joy be not fulfilled What am I to carry the marks of such a great King But howbeit I am a sink sinfull mass a wretched captive of sin my Lord Jesus can hew heaven out of worse timber then I am if worse can be 3. I now rejoyce with joy unspeakable glorious that I never purposed posed to bring Christ noâ— the least hoof or hair-breadth of truth under 〈◊〉 I desired to have keep Christ all alone that he should never rub clothes with that black-skin'd harlot of Rome I am now fully payed home so that nothing aileth me for the present but love-sickness for a â—â—all possession of my faire â—t welbeloved I would give him my bond under my faith hand to frist heaven an hundred yeers longer so being he would lay his holy face to my sometimes wet cheeks Oh who would not pity me to know how fain I would have the King shaking the tree of life upon me or letting me in to the well of life with my old dish that I might be drunken with the fountain here in the house of my pilgrimage I cannot nay I would not be quite of Christs love Hâ— hath left the marke behinde him where he gripped He goeth away leaveth me his burning love to wrestle together I can scarce win my meat of his love because of absence My Lord giveth me but hungry half-kisses which serve to feed pain increase hunger but doe not satisfie my desires His dieting of my soul for this race maketh me lean I have gotten the waile choice of Christ's crosses even the â—ithe the flower of the gold of all crosses to bear witness to the truth herein finde I liberty joy access life comfort love â—aith submission patience resolution to take delight in on-waiting with all in my race he hath come near me let me see the gold crown What then want I but fruition reall enjoyment which is reserved to my countrey Let no man think he shall lose at Christs hands in suffering for him 4. For these present trials they are most dangerous for people shall be stolen off their feet with well washen white-skin'd pretences of indifferency but it is the power of the great Antichrist working in this land Woe woe woe be to Apostat Scotland there is wrath a cup of the red wine of the wrath of God Almighty in the Lords hand that they â—hall drink and spue and fall and not rise again The star called Wormwood Gall is fallen in the fountaines and rivers hath made them bitter the sword of the Lord is â—ourbished against the Idol-shepherds of the lâ—nd women shall bless the barren womb miscarrying breasts all hearts shall be faint and all knees shall tremble an end is coming the leopard and the lion shall watch over our cities houses great fair shall be desolate without an inhabitant the Lord hath said Pray not for this people for I have taken my pâ—ace from them yet the Lord's third part shall come through the fire as refined gold for the treasure of the Lord the out-casts of Scotland shall be gathered together again the wilderness shall blossome as the flower bud grow as the rose oâ— Sharon great shall be the glory of the Lord upon Scotland 5. 〈◊〉 am here asâ—aulted with the learned pregnant wits of this Kingdom but all honour be to my Lord truth but laugheth at beâ—isted blinded Scribes disputers of this world Gods wisdom confoundeth them Christ triumpheth in his own strong truth that speaketh for it self 6. I doubt not but my Lord is preparing me for heavier trialâ— I am most ready at the good pleasure of my Lord in the strength of his grace for any thing he shall be pleased to call me to neither shall the last black-faced messenger Death be holden at the door when it shall knock If my Lord will take honour of the like of me how glad joyâ—ull shall my soul be Let Christ come out with me to an hotter battell then this I shall fear no flesh I know that my master will win the day that he hath taken the ordering of my sufferings in his own hand 7. As for my deliverance that miscarrieth I am here by my Lords grace to lay my hand on my mouth to be silent wait on my Lord Jesus is on his Journey for my deliverance I will not grudge that he runneth not so fast as I would have him On-waiting till the swelling rivers fall till my Lord arise as a mighty man after strong wine shall be my best I have not yet resisted to blood 8. O how often am I laid in the dust and urged by the tempter who can ride his own errands upon our lying apprehensions to sin against the unchangeable love of my Lord. When I think upon the sparrowes swallowes that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth and of my dumb sabbaths my sorrowfull blâ—ired eyes look asquint upon Christ and present him as angry But in this triall all honour to our princely and â—oyall â—ing faith â—aileth â—â—ir before the wiâ—d with top â—aile up and carrieth the poor passâ—nger through I â—ay inhibitions upon my thoughts that they receive no slanders of my onely onely Beloved let him even â—ay out of his own mouth There is no hope yet I will die in that sweet beguile 〈◊〉 is not so Iâ— all see the Salvation of God Let me be deceived really and never win to dry land it is my joy to beleeve under the water to die with faith in my hand gripping Christ let my conceptions of Christs love goe to the grave with me to hell with me I may not I dare not quite them I hope to keep Christs pawne if he never come to loose it let him see to his own promise I know Presumption howbeit it be made of stoutness will not thus be wilfull in heavie trials Now my dearest in Christ the great messenger of the Covenant the onely wise alsufficient Iehovah establish you to the end I hear the Lord hath been at your house hath called home your 〈◊〉 to her rest I know Sir ye see the Lord loosing the pâ—â—s of your tabernacle wooing your love from this plaistered over-guilded world calling upon you to be making your self ready to goe to your fathers countrey which shall be a sweet fruit of that visitation Ye know to send the Comforter was a King word when he
ascended on high ye have claim to interest in that promise Remember my love in Christ to your father shew him it is late black might with him his long lying at the water-side is that he may look his papers eâ—â— he take shipping be at a point for his last answer before his judge Lord. All love all mercy all grace peace all multiplied saving consolations all joy faith in Christ all stability confirming strength of grace the good-will of him that dwelt in the bush be with you Aberd. 15. June 1637. Your unworthy brother is his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION M C KNAUGHT 35 Worthy dearest in the Lord. I Ever loved since I knew you that little vineyard of the Lord 's planting in Galloway But now much more since I have heard that he who hath his fire in Zion his furnace in Ierusalem hath been pleased to set up a furnace amongst you with the first in this Kingdom He who maketh old things new seeing Scotland an old drossie rusted Kirk is beginning to make a new clean bride of her to bring a young chast wife to him self out of the fire This fire shall be quenched so soon as Christ hath brought a clean spouse thorow the fire Therefore my dearly beloved in the Lord fear not a worm fear noâ— worm Iacob Christ iâ— iâ— that plea shall win the plea Charge an unbeleeving heart under the pain of treason against our great royall King Jesus to dependence by faith quiet on-waiting on our Lord Get you in to your chambers shut the doors about you In in with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope ye doves flee in to Christ's windowes till the indignation be over the storme be past Glorifie the Lord in your sufferings take his banner of love spread over you others will follow you if they see you strong in the Lord their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage look up see who is coming lift up your head he is coming to save in garments died in blood travelling in the greatness of his strength I laugh I smile I leap for joy to see Christ coming to save you so quickly O such wide steps as Christ taketh Three or four hills are but a step to him he skippeth over the mountains Christ hath set a battell betwixt his poor weak saints his enemies he waileth the weapons for both parties saith to the enemies Take you a sword of steel Law Authority Parliaments Kings upon your side that is your armour he saith to his saints I give you a feckless tree-sword in your hand that is suffering receiving of strokes spoiling of your goods with your tree-sword ye shall get gain the Victory Was not Christ dragged through the ditches of deep distâ—esses great straits yet Christ who is your head hath win through with his life howbeit not with a whole skin Ye are Christs members 〈◊〉 is drawing his members thorow the thorny hedge up to heaven after him Chrisâ— one day will not have so much as a pained toe but there are great 〈◊〉 portions of Christ's mystical body not yet within the gates of the great high city the new Jerusalem the dragon will strike at Christ so long as there is one 〈◊〉 member of Christ's body out of heaven I tell you Christ 〈◊〉 make new work out of old fore-castâ—n Scotland gather 〈◊〉 old broken boards of his tabernacle pin them nail them togâ—ther our bills supplications are up in heaven Christ 〈◊〉 â—offers full of them there is mercy on the other 〈◊〉 of this hiâ—… a good answer to all our bills is agreed 〈◊〉 I must tell you what lovely Jesus fair Jesus King Jesus â—ath done to my soul sometimes he sendeth me out a standing drink whispereth a word thorow the wall I am well content of kindnessâ—t the second hand his bode is ever welcome to â—â—e be what it will but at other times he will be messenger himself I get the cup of salvation out of his own hand 〈◊〉 to me we cannot rest till we be in others armes and O how swèet is a fresh kiss from his holy mouth his â—…athing that goeth before a kiss upon my poor soul is sweet 〈◊〉 faultâ— but that it is too short I am careless stand not much on this howbeit â—oines back shoulders head â—ive in pieces in steping up to my fathers house I know my Lord can make long broad high deep glory to his name out of this bit feckless body for Christ looketh not what stuffe 〈◊〉 â—…eth glory ouâ— of My dearly beloved ye have often frâ—hed 〈◊〉 but that is put up in my Master's accounts â—e have him debter for me but if ye will doe any thing for me 〈◊〉 â—â—ow ye will now in my extremity tell all my dear friends that a prisoner is fettered chained in Christ's love Lord never loâ—… the fetters ye they together take 〈◊〉 hartiest commâ—…tions to my Lord Jesus thank him for a poor friend I desire your husband to read this letter I send him a prisoners blessing I will be obliged to him if he will be willing to suffer for my dear Master suffering is the professors golden garment there shall be no losses on Christ's side of it ye have been witnesses of much joy betwixt Christ me at communion-feasts the remembrance whereof howbeit I be feasted in secret holleth my heart for I am put from the board-head the kings first mess to his by-board his broken meat is sweet unto me I thank my Lord for borrowed crumbs no less then when I was feasted at the communion-table in Anwoth Kirkâ—udbright pray that I may get one day of Christ in publike as I have had long since before my eyes be closed Oh that my Master would take up house again lend me the keys of his wine-cellar again God send me borrowed drink till then Remember my love to Chist's kinsmen with you I pray for Christ's father's blessing to them all Grace be with you a prisoners blessing be with you I write it and I bide by it God shall be glorious in Marion M c Knaught when this stormy blast shall be over O woman beloved of God beleeve rejoyce be strong in the Lord Grace is thy portion Aberd. 15. June 1637. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN GORDON At Risco in Galloway 36 My worthy dear Brother MIspend not your short sand-glass which runneth very fast seek your Lord in time let me obtain of you a letter under your hand for a promise to God by his grace to take a new course of walking with God heaven is not at the next door I finde it hard to be a Christian there is no little thrusting thronging to thrust in at
the whole ordering and disposing of my sufferings Let him tutour me tutour my crosses as he thinketh good there is no danger nor hazard in following such a guide howbeit he should lead me through hell if I could put faith foremost fill the fieldwith a quiet on-waiting beleeving to see the salvation of God I know Christ is not obliged to let me see both the sides of my cross turn it over over that I may see all My faith is richer to live upon credit Christ's borrowed money then to have much in my hand Alas I have forgotten that faith in times past hath stopped a lek in my crazed barke hath filled my sailes with a fair wind I see it a work of God that experiences are all lost when summonds of improbation to prove our Charters of Christ to be counterfit are raised against poor souls in their heavie trials but let me be a sinner worse then the chief of sinners yea a guilty devil I am sure my welbeloved is God when I say Christ is God my Christ is God I have said all things I can say no more I would I could build as much on this my Christ is God as it would bear I might lay all the world upon it I am sure Christ untried and untaken up in the power of his love Kindness mercies goodness wisdom long-suffering greatness is the rock that dim-sighted travellers dash their foot against so stumble fearfully But my wounds are sorest pain me most to sin against his love his mercy if he would set me my conscience by the ears together resolve not to rid the plea but let us deal it betwixt us my spitting upon the fair face of Christ's love mercies by my Jealousies unbelief and doubting would be enough to sink me Oh oh I am convinced O Lord I stand dumb before thee for this Let me be mine own Judge in this and I take a dreadfull doom upon me for it for I still misbeleeve though I have seen that my Lord hath made my cross as if it were all Crystal so as I can see thorow it Christs fair face and heaven and that God hath honoured a lump of sinfull flesh and blood the like of me 〈◊〉 to be Christ's honourable Lord-prisoner I ought to esteem the walls of the theeves-hole if I were shut up in it or any stinking dungeon all hung with tapestrie most beautifull for my Lord Jesus yet I am not so shut up but that the sun shineth upon my prison the fair wide heaven is the covering of it But my Lord in his sweet visits hath done more for he make me finde that he will be a confined prisoner with me he lieth down riseth up with me when I sigh he sigheth When I weep he suffereth with me I confesse here is the blessed issue of my sufferings already begun that my heart is filled with hunger desire to have him glorified in my sufferings Blessed ye of the Lord Madam if ye would help a poor Dyvour cause others of your acquaintance in Christ help me to pay my debt of love even reall praises to Christ my Lord. Madam let me charge you in the Lord as ye will answer to him help me in this duty which he hath tyed about my neck with a chain of such singular expressions of his loving kindness to set on high Christ to hold in my honesty at his hands for I have nothing to give him O that he would arrest comprise my love my heart for all I am a Dyvour who have no more free goods in the world for Christ save that it is both the whole heritage I have all my movables besides Lord give the thirsty man a drink Oh to be over the ears in the well Oh to be swattering swimming over head ears in Christ's love I would not have Christ's love entering in me but I would enter into it be swallowed up of that love But I see not my self here for I fear I make more of his love then of himself whereas himself is far beyond much better then his love Oh if I had my sinfull armes filled with that lovely one Christ Blessed be my rich Lord Jesus who sendeth not away beggers from his house with a toom dish He filleth the vessels of such as will come seek We might beg our selves rich if we were wise if we could but hold out our withered hands to Christ learn to suit seek aske knock I ow my salvation for Christ's glory low it to Christ desire that my hell yea a new hell seven times hotter then the old hell might buy praises before men and Angels to my Lord Jesus providing alwayes I were free of Christ's hatred displeasure What am I to be forfeited sold in soul body to have my great royall King set on high and extolled above all O if I knew how high to have him set all the world far far beneath the soles of his feet Nay I deserve not to be the matter of his praises far less to be an agent in praising of him But he can win his own glory out of me out of one worse then I if any such be if it please his holy Majesty so to doe he knoweth that I am not now flattering him Madam let me have your prayers as ye have the prayers blessing of him that is separated from his Brethren Grace Grace be with you Aberd. June 15. 1637. Your own in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Earle of Cassills 42 My very Noble honourable Lord. I make bold out of the honourable Christian report I hear of your Lo having no other thing to say but that which concerneth the honourable cause which the Lord hath enabled your Lo to professe to write this that it is your Lo crown your glory your honour to set your shoulder under the Lords glory now falling to the ground to back Christ now when so many think it wisdom to let him send for himself the shields of the earth ever did doe still beleeve that Christ is a cumbersom neighbour that it is a pain to hold up his yea's nay's They fear he take their chariots their crownes their honour from them but my Lord standeth in need of none of them all But it is your glory to own Christ his buried truth for let men say what they please the plea with Sion's enemies in this day of Jacob's trouble is If Christ should be King no mouth steak lawes but his It concerneth the apple of Christ's eye his royall priviledges what now is debated Christ's Kingly honour is come to yea nay But let me be pardoned my my dear Noble Lord to beseech you by the mercies of God by the comforts of the Spirit by the wounds of your dear
Saviour by your compearance before the Judge of quick dead to stand for Christ and to back him Oh if the Nobles had done their part been zealous for the Lord it had not been as it is now but men think it wisdom to stand beside Christ till his head be broken sing dumb there is a time coming when Christ will have a thick court he will be the glory of Scotland he shall make a diadem a garland a seal upon his heart a ring on his finger of these who have avouched him before this faithlesse generation Howbeit ere that come wrath from the Lord is ordained for this land My Lord I have cause to write this to your Lo for I dare not conceal his kindness to the soul of an afflicted exiled prisoner Who hath more cause to boast in the Lord then such a sinner as I Who am feasted with the consolations of Christ have no pain in my sufferings but the pain of soul-sickness of love for Christ sorrow that I cannot get help to sound aloud the high praises of him who hath heard the fighing of the prisoner is content to lay the head of his oppressed servant in his bosome under his chinne let him feel the smell of his garments This I behooved to write that your Lo might know Christ is as good as he is called to testifie to your Lo the cause your Lo now professeth before this faithless world is Christ's your Lo shall have no shame of it Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant S. R. To the much honoured JOHN OSBURN Provest of Ayr. 43 Much honoured Sir GRrace mercy peace be to you Upon our small acquaintance the good report I hear of you I could not but write to you I have nothing to say but Christ in that honourable place lie hath put you in hath intrusted you with a dear pledge which is his own glory hath armed you with his sword to keep the pledge make a good account of it to God Be not affraid of me Your master can mowe down his enemies make with red hay of fair flowers your time will not be long after your after 〈…〉 will come your evening after evening night serve Christ back him lethis cause be your cause give not an hair breadth of 〈◊〉 away for it is not yours but God's then since ye are going take Christ's tâ—â—tiâ—cat with you out of this life Well done good faithfull servant His well done is worth a shipfull of Good-dayes earthly honours I have cause to say this because I finde him truth it self In my sad dayes Christ laugheth cheerfully saith All will be well Would to God all this Kingdom ye all that know God knew what is betwixt me Christ in this prison what kisses embracements love-communings I take his cross in my armes with joy I blesse it I rejoyce in it suffering for Christ is my garland I would not exchange Christ for ten thousand worlds nay if the comparison could stand I would not exchange Christ with heaven Sir pray for me the prayers blessing of a prisoner of Christ meet you in all your straits Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Bailiffe of Ayr. 44 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper Remember your Chief's speeches on his death-bed I pray your Sir sell all buy the pearle time will cut you from this world's glory Look what will doe you good when your glasse shall be run out let Christ's love bear most court in your soul that court will bear down the love of other things Christ seeketh your help in your place give him your hand Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ then I have for he hath made me sick of love leâ—t me in pain to wrestle with his love love is like to fall a swoon through his absence I mean not that he deserteth me or that I am ebbe of comforts but this is an uncouth pain Oh that I had a heart a love to render to him back again O if principalities powers thrones dominions all the world would help me to praise Praise him in my behalf Remember my love to your wife I thank you most kindly for your love to my brother Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 45 GRace mercy and peace be unto you Your nor writing to me cannot binde me up from remembring you now then that at least ye may be a witness a third man to behold in paper what is betwixt Christ me I was in his eyes like a young Orphan wanting known parents casten out in the open fields either Christ behooved to take me up to bring me home to his house and fire-side else I had dyed in the fields now I am homly with Christ's love so that I think the house mine own the master of the house mine also Christ enquired not when he began to love me whether I was fair or black sun-burnt love taketh what it may have He loved me before this time I know but now I have the flower of his love his love is come to a fair bloom like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves it casteth a strong fragrant smell I want nothing but wayes of expressing Christ's love A full vessel would have a vent O if I could smoke out cast out coales to make a fire in many brests of this land Oh it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ for no other purpose but to write books love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men Angels in exercise busie night day to speak of it Alas I can speak nothing of it but wonder at three things in his love First Freedome O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing Secondly The Sweetness of his love I give over either to speak or write of it but these that feel it may better bear witness What it is but it is so sweet that next to Christ himself nothing can match it nay I think a soul could live eternally blessed onely on Christ's love feed upon no other thing yea when Christ in love giveth a blow it doeth a soul good it is a kinde of comfort joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely sweet soft hand of Jesus And Thirdly what power strength is in his love I am perswaded it can climb aâ—stâ—ep hill hell upon it's back swim through the water not droâ—n sing in the fire finde no pain triumph in losles prisons sorrows exile disgrace laugh
rejoyce in death Oh for a yeer's lease of the sense of his love without a cloud to try what Christ is Oh for the coming of the bridegroom Oh when will I see the bridegroom the bride meet in the clouds kisse each other Oh when will we get our day our hearts full of that love Oh is it were lawfull to complain of the fâ—mine want of that love of the immediat vision of God! O time time how doest thou torment the souls of these that would be swallowed up of Christ's love because thou movest so slowly Oh if he would pity a poor prisoner blow love upon me give a prisoner a taste or draught of that surpassing sweetness which is glory as it were begun to be a confirmation that Christ I shall have our fill of other for ever Come hither O love of Christ that I may once kisse thee before I die what would I not give to have time that lieth betwixt Christ me taken out of the way that we might once meet I cannot think but â—t the first sight I shall see of that most lovely fairest face love shall come out of his two eyes fill me with astonishment I would but desire to stand at the utter side of the gates of the new Jerusalem look thorow a hole of the door see Christ's face a borrowed vision in this life would be my borrowed begun heaven while the long long-looked for day dawn It is not for nothing that it is said Colos. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory I will be content of no pawne of heaven but Christ himself for Christ possessed by faith here is young heaven glory in the bud If I had that pawne I would bide horning hell both ere I gave it again All we have here is scarce the picture of glory Should not we young bairns long look for the expiring of our minority It were good to be daily begging propines love-gifts the bridegroom's favours if we can doe no more seek Crumbs hungry dinners of Christ's love to keep the taste of heaven in our mouth while supper time I know it is far afternoon and nigh the marriage-supper of the Lamb the table is covered already O welbeloved run run fast O fair day when wil't thou dawn O shaddows flee away I think hope love woven thorow other make our absence from Christ spirituall torment It is a pain to wait on but hope that maketh not a hamed swalloweth up that pain It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ us so long asunder What can I say to Christ's love I think more then I can say To consider that when my Lord Jesus may take the air if I may so speak goe abroad yet he will be confined keep the prison with me but in all this sweet communion with him what am I to be thanked for I am but a sufferer whether I will or not he will be kind to me as if he had defied my guiltiness to make him unkind so he beareth in his love on me Here I die with wondering that justice hindereth not love for there are none in hell nor out of hell more unworthy of Christ's love Shame may confound and scar me once to hold up my black mouth to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses If my inner-side were turned out all men saw my vileness they would say to me It is a shame for thee to stand still while Christ kiss thee embrace thee It would seem to become me rather to run away from hi love as ashamed at my own unworthiness Nay I may think shame to take heaven who have so higly provoked my Lord Jesus But seeing Christ's love will shame me I am content to be shamed My desire is that my Lord would give me broader deeper thoughts to feed my self with wondering at his love I would I could weigh it but I have no ballance for it When I have worn my tongue to the stump in praising of Christ I have done nothing to him I must let him alone for my withered armes will not goe about his high wide long and broad love What remaineth then but that my debt to the love of Christ lie unpaid for all eternity All that are in heaven are black sham'd with his love as well as I we must all be Dyvours together the blessing of that house-full or heaven-full of Dyvours shall rest for ever upon him Off this Land Nation would come stand beside his inconceivable glorious perfections look in love wonder adore would to God I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house But this Nation hath forsaken the fountain of living waters Lord cast not water on Scotland's coal Woe woe will be to this Land because of the day of the Lord 's fierce anger that is so fast coming Grace be with you Aberd. Your affectionat Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 46 Worthy Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in this Northerne world in paper I know it is not forgetfulness that ye write not I am every way in good case both in soul body all honour glory be to my Lord I want nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the unknown Son of God Either I know not what Christianity is or we have stinted a measure of so many ounce weights no more upon holiness there we are at a stay drawing our breath all our life a moderation in God's way now is much in request I profess I have never taken pains to finde out him whom my soul loveth there is a gate yet of finding out Christ that I have never lighted upon Oh if I could finde it out Alas how soon are we pleased with our own shaddow in a glass It were good to be beginning in sad earnest to finde out God to seek the right tread of Christ time custome a good opinion of our selves our good meaning our lazie desires our fair showes the world's glistering lustres these broad passements buskings of religion that bear bulk in the Kirk is that wherewith most satisfie themselves but a watered bed with tears a dry throat with praying eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land is rare to be found among us Oh if we could know the power of godliness This is one part of my case an other is that I like a fool once summoned Christ for unkindness complained of his sickelness unconstaney because he would have no more of my service nor preaching had casten me out of the inheritance of the Lord And I confess now this was but a bought plea I was a fool yet he hath born with me I gave him a fair advantage against me but love mercy would not let him take it
poor men may give where there is a mean portion he is content with the less if there be sincerity broken summes little feckless obedience will be pardoned hold the foot with him know ye not that our kindly Lord retaineth his good old heart yet He breaketh not a bruised reed nor quencheth the smoaking flax but if the wind blow he holdeth his hands about it till it rise to a flame The Law cometh on with three Oyes's with all the heart with all the soul with all the whole strength where would poor folke like you me furnish all these summes it feareth me may it is most certain that if the payment were to come out of our purse when we should put our hand in our bag we would bring out the wind or worse But the new Covenant seeketh not heap mete nor stented obedience as the condition of it because forgiveness hath alwayes place Hence I draw this conclusion To think matters betwixt Chirst us goe back for want of heaped measure is a piece of old Adam's pride who would either be at legal payment or nothing We would still have God in our common buy his kindness with our merits for beggerly pride is Devil'shonest blusheth to be in Christ's common scarce giveth God a grammercy a lifted cap except it be the Pharisee's unlucky God I 〈◊〉 thee or a bowed knee to Christ it will onely give a good-day for a good-day again if he dissemble his kindness as it were in jest seem to misken it it in earnest spurneth with the heels snuffeth in the wind careth not much for Christ's kindness If he will not be friends let him goe saith pride beware of this thief when Christ offereth himself 3. No marvell then of whisperings whether you be in the Covenant or not For Pride it maketh loose work of the Covenant of grace will not let Christ be full bargainmaker To speak to you particularly shortly 1. All the truly regenerated cannot determinatly tell you the measure of their dejections because Christ beginneth young with many stealeth into their heart ere they wit of themselves becometh homely with them with little din or noise I grant many are blinded in rejoycing in a good-cheap conversion that never cost them a sick night Christ's physick wrought in a dream upon them But for that I would say if other markes be found that Christ is indeed come in never make a plea with him because he will not answer Lord Iesus how camest thou in whether in at door or window Make him welcome since he is come The wind bloweth where it listeth all the world's wit cannot perfectly render a reason why the wind should bea moneth in the east six weeks possibly in the west the space onely of an afternoon in the south or north Ye will not finde â—â—t all the nicks steps of Christ's way with a foul doe what ye can for sometimes he will come in stepping softly like one walking beside a sleeping person slip to the door let none know he was there 2. Ye object the truly regenerat should love God for himself ye fear that ye love him more for his benefits as incitements motives to love him then for himself I Answer to love God for himself as the last end also for his benefits as incitements motives to love him may stand well together as a son loveth his mother because she is his mother howbeit she be poor he loveth her for an apple also I hope ye will not say that benefits are the onely reason bottom of your love it seemeth there is a better foundation for it Alwayes if a hole be in it sow it up shortly 3. Ye feel not such mourning in Christ's absence as ye would I Answer that the regenerat mourn at all times all in alike measure for his absence I deny There are different degrees of mourning less or more as they have less or more love to him less or more sense of his absence But 1. Some they must have 2. Sometimes they miss not the Lord then they cannot mourn howbeit it is not long so At least it is not alwayes so 3. Ye challenge your self that some truthes finde more credit whith you then others Ye doe well for God is true in the least as well as in the greatest he must be so to you Ye must not call him true in the one page of the leaf false in the other for our Lord in all his writtings never contradicted himself yet although the best of the regenerat have slipped here alwayes labour ye to hold your feet 4. Comparing the estate of one truly regenerat whose heart is a temple to the Holy Ghost yours which is full of uncleanness corruption ye stand dumb discouraged dare not sometimes call Christ heartsomely your own I Answer the best regenerat have their defilements if I may speak so their draff-poke that will â—log behinde them all their dayes was la as they will there will be filth in their bosom But let not this put you from the well 2. I Answer albeit there be some ounce weights of carnality some squint look or eye in our neck to an idol yet love in it's own measure may be sound for glory must purifie perfect our love it will never till then be absolutly pure yet if the idol reign have the yolk of the heart the keyes of the house Christ onely be made an underling to run erraâ—ds all is not right therefore examine well 3. There is a two fold discouragement one of unbeleef to conclude make doubting the conclusion for a mote in your eye a by-look to an idol this is ill There is another discouragement of sorrow for sin when ye finde a by-look to an idol this is good a matter of thanksgiving therefore examine here also 5. The assurance of Jesus's love ye say would be the most comfortable newes that ever ye heard Ans. That may stop twenty holes loose many objections That love hath tellng in it I trow Oh that ye knew felt it as I have done I wish ye a share of my feast sweet sweet hath it been to me If my Lord had not given me his love I would have fallen thorow the causey of Aberdeen ere now But for you hing on your feast is not far off ye shall be filled ere ye goe there is as much in our Lord's pantry as will satisfie all his bairns as much wine in his cellar as will quench all their thirst hunger on for there is meat in hunger for Christ Goe never from him but fash him who yet is pleased with the importunity of hungry souls with a dish-full of hungry desires till he fill it if he delay yet come not ye away albeit ye should fall a swoon at his feet 7. Ye
as if I had claim by merit for my suffering for him But I wish he would give me grace to learn to goe on my own feet to learn to want his comforts to give thanks beleeve when the snn is not in my firmament when my welbeloved is from home gone another errand O what sweet peace have I when I finde Christ holdeth I draw when I climb up he shutteth me down when I grip him embrace him he seemeth to loose the grips flee away from me I think there even is a sweet joy of faith contentedness peace in his very tempting unkindness because my faith saith Christ is not in sad earnest with me but trying if I can be kinde to his mask cloud that covereth him aswell as to his fair face I bless his great name that I love his vail that goeth over his face while God send better for faith can kiss Gods tempting reproaches when he nicknameth a sinner a dog not worthy to eat bread with the bairns I think it an honour that Christ miscalleth me reproacheth me I will take that well of him howbeit I would not bear it well if another would be that homely but because I am his own God be thanked he may use me as he pleaseth I must say the saints have a sweet life betwixt them Christ there is much sweet solace of love betwixt him them when he feedeth among the lilies cometh in to his garden maketh a feast of honey combs drinketh his wine his milk cryeth Eat O friends drink be ye drunken O welbeloved One hour of this labour is worth a shipfull of world's drunken muddy joy nay even the gate of heaven is the sunny side the of brae the very garden of the world for the men of this world have their own unchristned profane crosses woe be to them their cursed crosses both for their ills are salted with Gods vengeance our ills seasoned with our fathers blessing So they are no fools who choose Christ sell all things for him it is no bairns market nor a blinde block we know well what we get what we give Now for any resolution to goe to any other Kingdō I dare not speak one word my hopes of enlargement are cold my hopes of re-entry to my Master 's ill dressed vine-yard again are far colder I have no seat for my faith to sit on but bare omnipotency Gods holy arm good will here I desire to stay ride at anchor winter while God send fair weather again be pleased to take home to his house my harlot-mother Oh if her husband would be that kind as to goe fetch her out of the brothel-house chase her lovers to the hills but there will be sad dayes ere it come to that Remember my bonds Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Busbie 54 MISTRESS ALthough not acquaint yet because we are father's children I thought good to write unto you howbeit my first discourse communing with you of Christ be in paper yet I have cause since I came hither to have no paper-thoughts of him for in my sad dayes he is become the flower of my joyes I but lie here living upon his love but cannot get so much of it as fain I would have not because Christ's love is Lordly looketh too high but because I have a narrow vessel to receive his love I look too low But I give under my own hand-write to you a testimonial of Christ his cross that they are a sweet couple that Christ hath never yet been set in his own due chair of honour amongst us all Oh I know not where to set him O for a high seat to that royal princely one O that my poor withered soul had once a running-over flood of that love to put sap in my dry root that that flood would spring out to the tongue and pen to utter great things to the high due commendation of such a fair one O holy holy holy one Alas there are too many dumb tongues in the world and dry hearts seeing there is employment in Christ for them all and ten thousand worlds of men Angels moe to set on high exalt the greatest Prince of the Kings of the earth Woe 's me that bits of living clay dare come out to rush hard heads with him that my unkind mother this harlot-Kirk hath given her sweet half-marrow such a meeting for this land hath given up with Christ the Lord is cutting Scotland in two halves and sending the worst half the harlotsister over to Rome's brothell-house to get her fill of Egypt's love I would my sufferings nay suppose I were burnt quick to ashes might buy an agreement betwixt his fairest sweetest love his gaddy lewd wife Fain would I give Christ his welcome-home to Scotland again if he would return This is a black day a day of clouds darkness for the roof-tree of my Lord Jesus his fair temple is fillen and Christs back is towards Scotland O thrice blessed are they who would hold Christ with their tears prayers I know ye will help to deal with him for he shall return again to this land the next day shall be Christ's there shall be a fair green young garden for Christ in this land God's summerdew shall lie on it all the night we shall sing again our new marriage-song to our Bridegroom concerning his vineyard but who knoweth whether we shall live see it I hear the Lord hath taken pains to afflict and dress you as a fruitfull vine for himself grow be green cast out your branches bring forth fruit fat and green fruitfull may ye be in the true and sappy root Grace grace free grace be your portion Remember my bonds with prayers praises Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet L. Iesus S. R. To NINIAN MURE 55. Loving friend I Received your letter I intreat you now in the morning of your life seek the Lord his face Beware of the follies of dangerous youth a perilous time for your soul Love not the world keep faith truth with all men in your covenants bargains Walk with God for he seeth you Doe nothing but that which ye may would doe if your eye-strings were breaking your breath growing cold Ye heard the truth of God from me my dear heart follow it forsake it not prize Christ salvation above all the world To live after the guise course of the rest of the world will not bring you to heaven Without faith in Christ repentance ye cannot see God take pains for salvation press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling If ye watch not against evils night day which beset you ye will come behinde
to flee up to our blessed match our marrow our fellow-friend I think Misterss ye are looking there-away this is your second or third thought make forward your guide waiteth on you I cannot but bless you for your care kindness to the saints God give you to finde mercy in that day of our Lord Jesus to whose saving grace I recommend you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM RIGGE Of Athernie 60. Much honoured worthy Sir YOur letter full of complaints bemoaning your guiltiness hath humbled me but give me leave to say ye seem to be too far upon the law's side ye will not gain much to be the Law 's Advocat I thought ye had not been the law 's but grace's man Nevertheless I am sure ye desire to take God's part against your self what ever your guiltiness be yet when it falleth into the sea of God's mercy it is but like a drop of blood fallen in the great Ocean There is nothing here to be done but let Christ's doom light upon the old man let him bear his condemnation seeing in Christ he was condemned for the Law hath but power over your worst half let the blame therefore lie where the blame should be let the new man be sure to say I am comely as the tents of Kedar how beit I be black sun-burnt by sitting neighbour beside a body of sin I seek no more here but room for Grace's defence Christ's white throne wherto a sinner condemned by the law may appeal But the use that I make of â—t is I am sorry that I am not so tender thin skin'd though I am sure Christ may finde employment for his calling in me if in any living seeing from my youth upward I have been making up the blackest process that any minister in the world or any other can answer to when I had done this I painted a providence of my own wrote ease for my self a peaceable ministery the sun shining on me till I should be in at heaven's gates Such green raw thoughts had I of God I thought also of a sleeping Devil that would pass by the like of me lying in moores out-fields So I bigged the gook's nest dreamed of dying at ease living in a fools paradise but since I came hither I am often so as that they would have much Rhetorick that would perswade me that Christ hath not written wrath on my dumb silent Sabbaths which is a persecution of the latest edition being used against none in this land that I can learn of besides me often I lie under a non-entry would gladly sell all my joyes to be confirmed King Jesus's free tennent to have sealed assurances but I see often blank papers my greatest desires are these two 1. That Christ would take me in hand to cure me undertake for a sick man I know I should not die under his hand yet in this while I still doubt I beleeve through a cloud that sorrow which hath no eyes hath but put a vail on Christ's love 2. It pleaseth him often since I came hither to come with some short blenks of his sweet love then because I have none to help me to praise his love can doe him no service in my own person as I thought once I did in his temple then I die with wishes desires to take up house dwell at the well-side to have him praised set on high But alas what can the like of me doe to get a good name raised upon my welbeloved Lord Jesus suppose I could desire to be suspended for ever of my part of heaven for his glory I am sure If I could get my will of Christ's love could be once over head ears in the beleeved apprehended seen love of the Son of God it were the fulfilling of the desires of the onely happiness I would be at but the truth is I hinder my communion with him because of want of both faith repentance because I will make an idol of Christ's kisses I will neither lead nor drive except I see Christ's love run in my channel when I wait and look for him the upper way I see his wisdom is pleased to play me a slip come the lower way so that I have not the right art of guiding Christ for there is art wisdom required in guiding of Christ's love aright when we have gotten it O how far are his wayes above mine O how little of him doe I see when I am as dry as a burnt heath in a drouthy summer when my root is withered howbeit I think then that I would drink a sea-full of Christ ere ever I would let the cup goe from my head yet I get nothing but delayes as if he would make hunger my daily food I think my self also hungered of hunger The rich Lord Jesus satisfie a famished man Grace be with you Aberd. 10. Sept. 1637. Your own in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To his worthy much honoured friend FULK ELIES 61 Worthy much honoured in our Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad of our more then paper-acquaintance Seeing we have one father it reckoneth the less though we never saw one anothers faces I profess my self most unworthy to follow the camp of such a worthy renowned captain as Christ. Oh alas I have cause to be grieved that men expect any thing of such a wretched man as I am It is a wonder to me if Christ can make any thing of my naughtie short narrow love to him surely it is not worth the up-taking 2. As for our lovely and beloved Church in Ireland my heart bleedeth for her desolation but I beleeve our Lord is onely lopping the vine-trees but not intending to cut them down or root them out It is true seeing we are heart-Atheists by nature cannot take providence aright because we halt crook ever since we fell we dream of an halting providence as if God's yard whereby he measureth joy sorrow to the sons of men were crooked unjust because servants are on horse-back Princes goe on foot but our Lord dealeth good evil some one portion or other to both by ounce-weights measureth them in a just and even ballance It is but folly to measure the Gospel by summer or winter-weather The summer-sun of the saints shineth not on them in this life how should we have complained if the Lord had turned the same providence that we now stomacke at up-side down had ordered matters thus that first the saints should have enjoyed heaven glory ease then Methusalem's dayes of sorrow daily miseries we should think a short heaven no heaven certainly his wayes pass finding out 3. Ye complain of the evil of heart-atheism but it is to a greater atheist then any man can be
Christ And if I were not so my sufferings had melted me away in ashes and smoke I thank my Lord that he hath something in me that this fire cannot consume Remember my love to your husband show him from me I desire that he may set aside all things make sure work of salvation that it be not a seeking when the sand-glass is run out time eternity shall tryst together There is no errand so wieghty as this O that he would take it to heart Grace be with you Aberd. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To the Lady DUNGUEIGH 65 MISTRESS I Long to hear from you how ye goe on with Christ I am sure that Christ ye once met I pray you fasten your grips there is holding drawing much sea-way to heaven we are often sea-sick but the voyage is so needfull that we must on any termes take shipping with Christ. I beleeve it is a good countrey we are going to there is ill lodging in this smoaky house of the world in which we are yet living Oh that we should love smoke so well clay that holdeth our feet fast It were our happiness to follow on after Christ to anchor our selves upon the rock in the upper side of the vail Christ Satan are now drawing to parties they are blinde who see not Scotland divided in two camps Christ coming out with his white banner of love he hangeth that over the heads of his souldiers And the other Captain the Dragon is coming out with a great black flag crieth the world the world case honour a whole skin and a soft couch there lie they leave Christ to fend for himself My counsel is that ye come out leave the multitude let Christ have your company Let them take clay this present world who love it Christ is a more worthy noble portion Blessed are these who get him It is good ere the storm rise to make ready all to be prepared to goe to the camp with Christ seeing he will not keep the house nor sit at the fire-side with couchers A showr for Christ is little enough Oh I finde all too little for him Woe woe woe 's me that I have no propine for my Lord Jesus My love is so feckless that it is a shame too offer it to him Oh if it were as broad as heaven as deep as the sea I would gladly bestow it upon him I persâ—ade you God is wringing grapes of red wine for Scotland this land shall drink spue fall His enemies shall drink the thick of it the grounds of it But Scotland's withered tree shall blossom again Christ shall make a second marriage with her take home his wife out of the furnace but if our eyes shall see it he knoweth who hath created time Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JONET MCCULLOCH 66 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you Hold on your course for it may be I will not soon see you venture through the thick of all things after Christ tine not your Master Christ in the throng of this great market Let Christ know how heavy how many a stone weight you your cares burdens crosses sins are let him bear all Make the heritage sure to your self get charters writs passâ—d through put on arms for the battel keep you fast by Christ then let the wind blow out of what airth it will your soul will not blow in the sea I finde Christ the most steadable friend and companion in the world to me now the need usefulness of Christ i seen best in trials Oh if hebe not well worthy of his room Lodge him in house heart stir up your husband to seek the Lord I wonder he hath never written to me I doe not forget him I taught you the whole counsel of God delivered it to you it will be inquired for at your hands have it in readiness against the time that the Lord ask for it make you to meet the Lord rest sleep in the love of that fairest among the sons of men Desire Christ's beauty give out all your love to him let none fall by Learn in prayer to speak to him help your mother's soul desire her from me to seek the Lord his salvation it 's not soon found many miss it Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 67 My Lord. I cannot expound your Lo contrary tides and these tentations wherewith ye are assaulted to be any other thing but Christ trying you saying unto you will ye also leave me I am sure Christ hath a great advantage against you if ye play foul play to him in that the holy Spirit hath done his part in evidencing to your conscience that this is the way of Christ wherein ye shall have peace the other as sure as God liveth the Antichrist's way Therefore as ye fear God fear your light stand in aw of a convincing conscience it is far better for your Lo to keep your conscience to hazard in such a honourable cause your place then wilfully against your light to come under guiltiness Kings cannot heal broken consciences when death judgement shall comprize your soul your counsellers others cannot become caution to Justice for you Ere it be long our Lord will put a finall determination to Acts of Parliament mens laws will clear you before men Angels of mens unjust sentences Ye received honour place Authority riches reputation from your Lord to set forward advance the liberties freedom of Christ's Kingdom Men whose consciences are made of stoutness think little of such matters which notwithstanding incroach directly upon Christ's prerogative royal So would men think it a light matter for VZZah to put out his hand to hold the Lord 's falling ark but it cost him his life And who doubteth but a carnal friend will advise you to shut your window pray beneath your breath Ye make too great a dâ—â— with your prayers so would a head-of-wit speak if ye were in Daniel's place But mens overguilded reasons will not help you when your conscience is like to rive with a double charge Alas alas when will this world learn to submit their wisdom to the wisdom of God I am sure your Lo hath found the truth goe not then to search it over again for it is ordinary for men to make doubts when they have a minde to desert the truth Kings are not their own men their wayes are in God's hand I rejoyce am glad that ye resolve to walk with Christ howbeit his court be thin Grace be with your Lo Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Master and Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM
RIGGE of Atherny 68 Worthy much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you How sad a prisoner would I be if I knew not that my Lord Jesus had the keys of the prison himself that his death blood hath bought a blessing to our crosses aswell as to our selves I am sure troubles have no prevailing right over us if they be but our Lord's Serjeants to keep us in ward while we are in this side of heaven I am perswaded also that they shall not goe over the bound-road nor enter in to heaven with us for they finde no welcome there where there is no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither any more pain therefore we shall leave them behinde us Oh if I could get as good a gate of sin even this wofull wretched body of sin as I get of Christ's cross Nay indeed I think the cross beared bâ—th me it self rather then I it in comparison of the tyranny of the lawless flesh wicked nighbour that dwelleth beside Christ's new creature But Oh this is that which presseth me down paiâ—eth me Jesus Christ in his saints sitteth neighbour with an ill second corruption deadness coldness pride lust worldliness self-love security falshood a world of â—oâ— the like which I finde in me that are daily doing violence to the new man O but we have cause to carry low sails to cleave fast to free grace free free grace Blessed be our Lord that ever that way was found out If my one foot were in heaven my soul half in if free-will corruption were absolute Lords of me I should never win wholly in O but the sweet new living way that Christ hath stroke up to our home be a safe way I finde now presence accâ—ss a greater dainty then bâ—fore but yet the bridegroom looketh through the lattes thorow the hole of the door O if he I were in fair dry land together in the other side of the water Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 30. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S R. To the Lady KILCONQUHAIR 69 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I am heartily content ye love own this oppâ—essed and wronged cause of Christ that now whâ—n so many are miscarried ye are in any measure taken with the love of Jesuâ— weary not but come in see if there be not more in Christ then the tongue of men Angels can express If ye seek a gate to heaven the way is in him or he is it What ye want is treasured up in Jesus he saith all his are yours even his Kingdom he is content to divide it betwixt him you yea his throne his glory Luk. 21. 29. Ioh. 17. 24. Rov 3. 21. Therefore take pains to climb up to that besâ—eged house to Christ for devils men armies of temptations are lying about the house to hold out all that are out it is taken with violence It is not a smooth easie way neitâ—er will your weather be fair pleasant but whosoever saw the invisible God the fair city make no reckoning of lossâ—s or crosses in ye must be cost you what it will stand not for a price for all that ye have to win the castle the rights to it are won to you it is disponed to you in your Lord Jesus's testament see what a fair legacy your dying friend Christ hath left you And there wanteth nothing but possession Then get up in the strength of the Lord get over the water to possâ—ss that good land It is better then a land of olives wine-trees for the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth is there before you a pure river of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb is there Your time is short therefore lose no time Gracious faithfull is he who hath called you to his Kingdom glory The city is yours by free conquest by promise therefore let no uncouth Lord-idol put you from your own The devil hath cheated the simple heir of his Paradise by enticing us to taste of the forbidden fruit hath as it were bought us out of our kindly heritage But our Lord Christ Jesus hath done more then bought the devil by for he hath redeemed the wodset made the poor heir free to the inheritaÌ„ce If we knew the glory of our elder brother in heaven we would long to be there to see him to get our fill of heaven We children think the earth a fair garden but it is but God's out-field wilde cold barren ground All things are fading that are here It is our happiness to make sure Christ to our selves Thus remembring my love to your husband wiâ—king to him what I write to you I commit you to God's tender mercy Aberd. Sepr 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CRAIGHALL 70 Honourable and Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot but write to your La of the sweet glorious termes I am in with the most joyful King that ever was under this well thrifing prosperous cross it is my Lord's salvation wrought by his own right hand that the water doeth not suffocat the breath of â—â—pe joyfull courage in the Loâ—d Jesus For his own person is still in the camp with his poor souldier I see the cross is tied with Christ's hand to the end of an honest profession We are but fools to endeavour to loose Christ's knot When I consider the comforts of God I durst not consent to sell or wod-set my short life-rent of the cross of the Lord Jesus I know that Christ bought with his own blood a right to sanctified blessed crosses in as far as they blow me over the water to my long desired home it were not good that Christ should be the buyer I the seller I know time death shall take sufferings fairly off my hand I hope we shall have an honest parting at night when this piece cold frosty afternoon-tide of my evil rough day shall be over Well is my soul of either sweet or sowre that Christ hath any part or portion in if he be at the one end of it it hall be well with me I shall die ere I libell faults against Christ's cross it hall have my testimonial under my hand as an honest saving mean of Christ for mortification faith's growth I have a stronger assurance since I came over Forth of the excellency of Jesus then I had before I am rather about him then in him while I am absent from him in this house of clay But I would be in heaven for no other cause but to essay try what boundies joy it must be to be over head ears in my welbeloved Christ's love O that fair one
hath my heart for evermore but alas it is over little for him O if it were better more worthy for his sake O if I might meet with him face to face in this side of eternity might have leave to plead with him that I am so hungred famished here with the niggardly portion of his love that he giveth me O that I might be carver steward my selâ— at mine own will of Christ's love if I may lawfully wish this then would I enlarge my vessel alas a narrow ebbe soul take in a sea of i love My hunger for it is hungry lean in beleeving that ever I shall be satisfied with that love so fain would I have what I know I cannot hold O Lord Jesus delightest thou delightest thou to pine torment poor souls with the want of thy incomparable loved O if I durst call thy dispensation cruell I know thou thy self aâ—t mercy without either brim or bottom I know thoâ— art a God bankfull of mercy love but Oh alas little of it cometh my way I die to look a far off to that love because I can get but little of it But hope saith this providence shall ere long look more favourably upon poor bodies me also Grace be with your La Spirit Aberd. Sept. 10. 1637. Yours La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JAMES HAMILTON 71 Reverend dear Brother PEace be to you from God our father and from our Lord Jesus I am laid low when I remember what I am and that my out-side casteth such a lustre when I finde so little within It is a wonder that Christ's glory is not defiled in running through such an unclean impure channel But I see Christ will be Christ in the dreg and refuse of men his art his shining wisdom his beauty speaketh loudest in blackness weakness deadness yea in nothing I see nothing no money no worth no good no life no deserving is the ground that omnipotency delighteth to draw glory out of O how sweet is the inner side of the walls of Christ's house and a room beside himself my distance from him maketh me sad O that we were in others arms O that the middle things betwixt us were removed I finde it a difficult matter to keep all stots with Christ when he laugheth I scarce beleeve it I would so fain have it true But I am like a low man looking up to a high mountain whom weariness and fainting overcometh I would climb up but I finde that I doe not advance in my journey as I would wish Yet I trust he shall take me home against night I marvel not that Antichrist in his slaves is so busie but our crowned King seeth and beholdeth and will arise for Zion's safety I am exceedingly distracted with letters and company that vilite me what I can doe or time will permit I shall not omit Excuse my brevity for I am straitned Remember the Lord's prisoner I desire to be mindfull of you Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr GEORGE DUMBAR 72 Reverend Dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Because your words have strengthened many I was silent expecting some lines from you in my bonds this is the cause why I wrote not to you but now I am forced to break off and speak I never beleeved till now that there was so much to be found in Christ in this side of death and of heaven O the ravishments of heavenly joy that may be had here in the small gleanings of comforts that fall from Christ what fools are we who know not and consider not the weight and the telling that is in the very earnest-penny the first fruits of our hoped for harvest How sweet how sweet is our infeftment O what then must personal possession be I finde that my Lord Jesus hath not miscooked or spilt this sweet cross he hath an eye on the fire and the melting gold to separate the mettall and the dross O how much time would it take me to read my obligations to Jesus my Lord who will neither have the faith of his own to be burnt to ashes nor yet will have a poor beleever in the fire to be half raw like Ephraim's unturned cakeâ— this is the wisdom of him who hath his fiâ—elâ— Zion and his furâ—ace in Jerusaâ—em I need not either bud or flatter temptations crâ—sses nor strive to buy the Devil or this malicious world by or râ—deem their kindness with half a han-breadth of truth He who is surâ—ty for his servant for good doeth power fully over-rule all that I sâ—e my prison hath neither lock nor door I am free in my bonds and my chains are made of rotten straw they shall not bide one pull of faith I am sure they are in hell who would exchange their torments with our crosses suppose they should nevâ—r be delivered give twenty thousand years torment to boot to be in our bonds for ever therefore we wrong Christ who siâ—…h fear doubt despond in them Our suffâ—â—ings are washen in Christ's blood as well as our souls for Christ's merits bought a blessing to the crosses of the sons of God and Jesus hath a back-bond of all our temptations that the free warders shall come out by law and justice in respect of the infinite and great summe that the Redeemer paid Our troubles ow us a free passage through them devils and men and crosses are our debters and death and all storms are our debters to blow our poor tossed bark over the water fraught-frâ—e to set the travellers in their own known ground Therefore we shall die yet live we are over the water some way already we are married our tocher-good is payed we are already more then conquerours If the devil and the world knew how the court with our Lord shall goe I am sure they would hire death to take us off their hand our sufferings are the onely wâ—ack ruine of the black Kingdom and yet a little the Antichrist must play himself with the bones slain bodies of the Lamb's followers but withall we stand with the hundred fourty four thousand who are with the Lamb upon the top of â—ount Sion Antichrist his followers are down in the valley ground we have the advantage of the hill our temptation are alwayes beneath our waters are beneath our breath as dying and behold we live I never heard before of a living death or a quick death but ours our death iâ— not like the common death Christ's skill his handy work a new cast of Christ's admirable art may be seen in our quick death I bless the Lord that all our troubles come through Christ's singers that he casteth sugar among them and casteth in some ounce weights of heaven and of the spirit of glory that resteth on suffering beleevers in
see Christ can borrow a cross for some hours set his servants beside it rather then under it win the plea too yea make glory to himself shame to his enemies comfort to his children out of it But whether Christ buy or borrow crosses he is King of crosses King of Devils King over hell King over malice When he was in the grave he came out brought the keys with him he is Lord-Jaylor nay what say I he is Captain of the castle he hath the keys of deaths hell what are our troubles but little deaths he who commandeth the great castle commandeth the little also 2. I see a hardned face two skins upon our browes against the winter hail stormy wind is meetest for a poor traveller in a winter journey to heaven O what art is it to learn to endure hardness to learn to goe bare footed either through the devil's fiery coals or his frozen waters 3. I am perswaded a sea-venture with Christ maketh great riches Is not our King Jesus his ship coming home shall not we get part of the gold Alas we fools miscount our gain when we seem losers Beleeve me I have no challenges against this well-born cross for it is come of Christ's house is honourable his propine To you it is given to suffer O what fools are we to undervalue his gifts to lightlie that which is true honour For if we could be faithfull our tackling shall not loose nor our mast break nor our sails blow into the sea The bastard crosses the kinless base-born crosses of worldlings for evil doing must be heavie grievous but our afflictions are light momentany 4. I think my self happy that I have lost credit with Christ that in this bargain I am Christ's sworn dyvour to whom he will lippen nothing no not one pin in the work of my salvation Let me stand in black and white in the Dyvourbook be ore Christ I am happy that my salvation is concredited to Christ's mediation Christ oweth no faith to me to lippen any thing to me but O what faith credit I ow to him Let my name fall let Christ's name stand in honour with man angel Alas I have no room to spread out my affection before God's people I see not how I can shout out cry out the loveliness the high honour the glory of my fairest Lord Jesus Oh that he would let me have a bed to lie in to be delivered of my birth that I might paint him out in his beauty to men as I dow 5. I wondered once at providence called white providence black unjust that I should be smothered in a town where no soul will take Christ off my hand But providence hath another lustre with God then with my bliered eyes I proclaim my self a blinde body who know not black white in the uncouth course of God's providence Suppose Christ would set hell where heaven is devils up in glory beside the elect Angels which yet cannot be I would I had a heart to acquiesce in his way without further dispute I see infinite wisdom is the mother of his judgements his wayes pass finding out 6. I cannot learn but I desire to learn to bring my thoughts will lusts in under Christ's feet that he may trample upon them But alas I am still upon Christ's wrong side Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 12. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNOX Of Disdove 83 Worthy dear Brother I Forget you not in my bonds I know ye are looking to Christ I beseech you follow your look I can say more of Christ now by experience though he be infinitly above beyond all that can be said of him then when I saw you I am drowned over head ears in his love Sell sell sell all things for Christ. If this whole world were the balk of a ballance it should not be able to bear the weight of Christ's love man angels have short arms to fathom it Set your feet upon this piece blew base clay of an over-guilded fair plaistered world an hours kissing of Christ is worth a world of worlds Sir make sure work or your salvation build not upon sand lay the foundation upon the rock in Zion strive to be dead to this world to your will lusts Let Christ have a commanding power a King throne in you Walk with Christ howbeit the wind should take the hide off your face I promise you Christ will win the field Your pastors cause you to erre except you see Christ's word goe not one foot with them Countenance not the reading of that Romish Service-book Keep your garments clean as ye would walk with the Lamb clothed in white The wrongs I suffer are upon record in heaven our great Master Judge will be upon us all bring us before the sun in our black 's white 's Blessed are they who watch keep themselves in God's love Learn to discern the Bridegroom's tongue to give your self to prayer reading Ye was often a hearer of me I would put my heart blood upon the doctrine I taught as the onely way to salvation goe not from it my dear Brother What I write to your self I write to your wife also Minde heaven Christ keep the spunk of the love of Christ you have gotten Christ shall blow on it if ye entertain it your end shall be peace There is a fire in our Zion but our Lord is but seeking a new Bride refined purified out of the furnace I assure you howbeit we be nick-named Puritans all the powers of the world shall not prevail against us Remember though a sinfull man write it to you these people shall yet be in Scotland as a green olive-tree a field blessed of the Lord it shall be proclaimed up up with Christ down down with all contrary powers Sir pray for me I name you to the Lord for further evil is determined against me Remember my love to Christian Murray her daughter I desire her in the edge of her evening to wait a little the King is coming he hath something that she never saw with him heaven is no dream Come see will teach her best Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION McKNAUGHT 84 Dearest in our Lord Iesus COunt it your honour that Christ hath begun at you to fine you first Fear not saith the Amen the true faithfull witness I write to you as my Master liveth upon the word of my royal King continue in prayer in watching your glorious deliverance is coming Christ is not far off a fig a straw for all the bits of clay that are risen against us Ye shall thresh the mountains fan then like
chaff Isa. 41. If ye slack your hands at your meetings your watching to prayer then it would seem our rock hath sold us but be dililigent be not discouraged I charge you in Christ rejoyce give thanks beleeve be strong in the Lord That burning bush in Galloway Kirkâ—…dbright shall not be burnt to ashes for the Lord is in the bush Be not discouraged that banishment is to be procured by the King's warrand to the Councel against me the earth is my Lord's I am filled with his sweet love running over I rejoyce to hear ye are in your journey such newes as I hear of all your faith love rejoyce my sad heart Pray for me for they seek my hurt but I give my self to prayer The blessing of my Lord a prisoner of Christ's blessing be with you O chosen greatly beloved woman faint not Fy fy if ye faint now Ye lose a good cause double your meetings cease not for Zion's sake hold not your peace till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Aberd. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To THOMAS CORBET 85 Dear friend I Forget you not It shall be my joy that ye follovv after Christ till ye finde him My conscience is a feast of joy to me that I sought in singleness of heart for Christ's love to put you upon the King's high-vvay to our Bridegroom our father's house Thrice blessed are ye my dear Brother if ye hold the way I beleeve ye and Christ once met I hope ye will not sunder with him Follovv the counsel of the man of God Mr William Dalglâ—ish If ye depart from what I taught you in a hair-breadth for fâ—ar or favour of men or desire of ease in this world I take heaven earth to witness that ill shall come upon you in end Build not your nest here This world is an hard ill made bed no rest in it for your soul awake awake make haste to seek that pearl Christ that this world seeth not Your night and your Master Christ will be upon you within a clap your hand-breadth of time will not bide you Take Christ hovvbeit a storm follow him howbeit this day be not yours Christ's the morrow will be yours his I would not exchange the joy of my bonds imprisonment for Christ with all the joy of this dirty soul-skinned world I have a love-bed with Christ am filled with his love I desire your vvife to doe what I write to you Let her remember how dear Christ would be to her when her breath turneth cold the eye-strings shall break O how joyfull should my soul be to know that I had brought on a marriage betvvixt Christ that people fevv or many if it be not so I vvill be woe to be a vvitness against them Use prayer love not the world be humble and esteem little of your self love your enemies pray for them make conscience of speaking truth when none knoweth but God I never eat but I pray for you all Pray for me Ye I shall see one another up in our father's house I rejoyce to hear that your eye is upon Christ. Follow on hing on quite him not The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlestoun 86. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which refreshed me Except from your son my brother I have seen few lâ—tters from my acquaintance in that countrey which maketh me heavie But I have the company of a Lord who can teach us all to be kind hath the right gate of it though for the present I have seven up's down's every day yet I am abundantly comforted feasted with my King welbeloved dâ—ily It pleaseth him to come dine with a sad prisoner a solitary stranger His spikenard casteth a smell yet my sweet hath some sowre mixed with it wherein I must acquiesce for there is no reason that his comforts be too cheap seeing they are delicates why should he not make them so to his own But I verily think now Christ hath led me up to a nick in Christianity that I was never at before I think all before vvas but child-hood bairns-play Since I departed from you I have been scalded vvhile the smoak of hell's fire vvent in at my throat I vvould have bought peace vvith a thousand years torment in hell I have been up also after these deep dovvn-castings sorrovvs before the Lamb 's vvhite throne in my father's inner court the great King'â— dining-hall Christ did cast a coveâ—ing of love over me he hath casten in a coal in my soul it is sâ—oking â—mong the stravv keeping the hearth warme I look back to what I vvas before I laugh to see the sand-houses I built vvhen I vvas a childâ— At first the remembrance of many fair feast-dayes vvith my Lord Jesus in publike wich are now changed into silent sabbaths raised a great tempest if I may speak so made the Devil a doe in my soul the devil came in would prompt me to make a plea with Christ to lay the blame on him as a hard master But now these mists are blowen away I am not onely silenced as to all quarrelling but fully satisfied Now I wonder that any man living can laugh upon the world or give it a hearty good-day The Lord Jesus hath handled me so that as I am now disposed I think never to be in this world 's common again for a night's lodging Christ beareth me good company he hath eased me when I saw it not lifting the cross off my shoulders so that I think it to be but a feather because underneath are everlasting arms God forbid it came to bartering or niffering of crosses for I think my cross so sweet that I know not where I would get the like of it Christ's honey-combs drop so abundantly that they sweeten my gall Nothing breaketh my heart but that I cannot get the daughters of Ierusalem to tell them of my bride-groom's glory I charge you in the name of Christ that ye tell all ye come to of it yet it is above telling understanding Oh if all the kingdom were as I am except my bonds they know not the love-kisses that my onely Lord Jesus wasteth on a dâted prisoner On my salvation this is the onely way to the new city I know Christ hath no dumb seals would he put his privy seal upon blank paper he hath sealed my sufferings with comforts I write this to confirm you I write now what I have seen as well as heard Now then my silence burneth up my spirit But Christ hath said thy stipend is running up with interest in heaven as if thou wert preaching And this from a King's mouth rejoyceth my heart At other
times I am sad for dwelling in Kedar's tents There are none that I yet know of but two persons in this town that I dare give my word for And the Lord hath removed my brethren my acquaintance far from me it may be I be forgotten in the place where the Lord made me the instrument to doe some good But I see this is vanity in me Let him make of me what he pleaseth if he make salvation out of it to me I am tempted troubled that all the fourteen Prelats should have been armed of God against me onely while the rest of my brethren are still preaching But I dare not say one word but this it is good Lord Iesus beacuse thou hast done it Wo is me for the virgin daughter wo is me for the desolation of the virgin daughter of Scotland O if my eyes were a fountain of tears to weep day night for that poor widow Kirk that poor miserable harlot Alas that my father hath put to the door my poor harlot mother Oh for that cloud of black wrath fury of the indignation of the Lord that is hanging over the Land Sir write to mel beseech you I pray you also be kind to my â—fflicted brother Remember my love to your wife The prayers the blessinâ— of the prisoner of Christ be on you Frequent your meetings for prayer communion with God they would be sweet meerings to me Aberd. 16. Febr. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knockbrex 87 My Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I am almost wearying yea wondering that ye write not to me though I know it is not forgetfulness As for my self I am every way well all glory to God I was before at a plea with Christ but it was bought by me unlawfull because his whose providence was not yea nay to my yea nay because I beleeved Christ's outward look better then his faithfull promise Yet he hath in patience waited on while I'be come to my self hath not taken advantage of my weak apprehensions of his goodness Great holy is his name He looketh to what I desire to be not to what I am One thing I have learned If I had been in Christ by way of adhesion onely as many branches are I should have beene burnt to ashes this world should have seen a suffering minister of Christ turned of something once in shew into unsavoury salt But my Lord Jesus had a good eye that the tempter should not play foul play blow out Christ's candle he took no thought of my stomacke fretting grudging humour but of his own grace when he burnt the house he saved his own goods And I beleeve the devil the persecuting world shall reap no fruit of me but burnt ashes for he will see to his own gold save that from being consumed with the fire O what ow I to the file to the hammer to the furnace of my Lord Jesus Who hath now let me see how good the wheat of Christ is that goeth through his mill his oven to be made bread for his own table Grace tried is better then grace it is more then grace it is glory in it's infancy I now see godliness is more then the out-side this world's passements their buskings Who knoweth the truth of grace without a trial O how little getteth Christ of us but that which he winneth to speak so with much toil pains And how soon would faith frieze without a cross How many dumb crosses have been laid upon my back that had never a tongue to speak the sweetness of Christ as this hath when Christ blesseth his own crosses with a tongue they breath out Christ's love wisdom kindness care of us Why should I start at the plough of my Lord that maketh deep furrows on my soul I know he is no idle husbandman he purposeth a crop O that this white withered lay-ground were made fertile to bear a crop for him by whom it is so painfully dressed that this fallow ground were broken up Why was I a fool grieved that he put his garland his rose upon my head the glory honour of his faithfull witnesses I desire now to make no moe pleas with Christ Verily he hath not put me to a loss by what I suffer he oweth me nothing for in my bonds how sweet comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me where in I finde a sufficient recompence of reward How blinde are my adversaries who sent me to a banquetting house to a house of wine to my lovely Lord Jesus his love-feasts not to a prison or place of exile Why should I smother my husband's honesty or sin against his love or be a niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing Brother eat with me give thanks I charge you before God that ye speak to others invite them to help me to praise Oh my debt of praise how weighty is it how far run up Oh that others would lend me to pay learn me to praise Oh I a drowned Dyvour Lord Jesus take my thoughts for payment Yet I am in this hot summer-blenk with the tear in my eye for by reason of my silence sorrow sorrow hath filled me My harp is hanged upon the willow trees because I am in a strange land I am still kept in exercise with envious brethren My mother hath born me a man of contention Write to me your minde anent Y. C. I cannot forget him I know not what God hath to doe with him your minde anent my Parishoners behaviour how they are served in preaching or if there be a Minister as yet thrust in upon them which I desire greatly to know which I much fear Dear Brother ye are in my heart to live to die with you Visite me with a letter Pray for me Remember my love to your wife Grace grace be with you God who heareth prayer visite you set it be unto you according to the prayers of Aberd. Jan. 1. 1367. Your own Brother Christ's Prisoner S. R. To my welbeloved reverend brother Mr ROBERT BLAIR 88 Reverend dearly beloved Brother GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be to you It is no great wonder my Dear Brother that ye be in heaviness for a season that God's will in crossing your design desires to dwell amongst a people whose God is the Lord should move you I deny not but ye have cause to enquire what his providence speaketh in this to you but God's directing commanding will can by no good logick be concluded from events of providence The Lord sent Paul many errands for the spreading of his Gospel where he found lions in his way a promise was made to his people of the holy land yet many
nations in the way fighting against ready to kill them who had the promise or keep them from possâ—ssing that good land which the Lord their God had given them I know ye have most to doe with submission of spirit but I perswade my self ye have learned in every condition wherein ye are cast therein to be content to say good is the will of the Lord let it be done I beleeve the Lord tackleth his ship often to fetch the wind that he purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings silence which I know from mine own experience is grievous to you sâ—eing he knoweth our willing minde to serve him our wages stipend is running to the fore with our God even as some tick souldiers get their pay when then they are bed-â—ast not able to goe to the fields with others Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord my God shall be my strentgh Isa. 49 3. we are to beleeve it shall be thus ere all the play be played Ier. 51 35. The violence done to me my flesh be upon Babylon the great whore's lovers shall the inhabitants of Zion say and my blood be upon Caldea shall Ierusalem say Zech. 12 2. Behold I will make Ierusalem a cap of trembling to all the people about where they shall be in the siege bosh against Iudah and Ierus them v. 3. And is that day I will make Ierusalem a burden so 〈…〉 stone for all people they that burden themselves with it shall be broken in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered against it When they have eaten swallowed us up they shall be sick vomit us out living men again the devil's stomack cannot digest the Church of God Suffering is the other half of our ministry howbeit the hardest For we would be content our King Jesus would make an open proclamation cry down crosses cry up joy gladness ease honour peace but it must not be so through many affâ—ctions we must enter into the Kingdom of God not onely by them but through them must we goe wiles will not take us by the cross It is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin For myself I am here a prisoner confined in Aberdâ—…n threatned to be removed to Caithness because I desire to edifie in this town I am openly preached against in the pulpits in my hearing tempted with disputations by the Doctors especially by D. B. Yet I am not ashamed of my Lord Jesus his garland crown I would not exchange my weeping with the fourteen Prelat painted laughter At my first coming here I took the Dorts at Christ would forsooth summond him for unkindness I sought a plea of my Lord was tossed with challenges whether he loved me or not disputed all over again that he had done to me because his word was a fire shut up in my bowels I was weary with forbearing because I said I was cast out of the Lord's inheritance but now I see I was a fool My Lord miskend all did bear with my foolish jealousies miskend that ever I wronged his love and now he is come again with mercy under his wings I past from my O witless summonds he is God I see I am man Now it hath pleased him to renew his love to my soul to dâte his poor prisoner Therefore my dear Brother help me to praise shew the Lord's people with you what he hath done to my soul that they may pray praise I charge you in the name of Christ not to omit it for for this cause I write to you that my sufferings may glorifie my royal King edifie his church in Ireland He knoweth how one of Christ's love-coals hath burnt my soul with a desire to have my bonds to preach his glory whose cross I now bear God forgive you if ye doe it not But I hope the Lord will move your heart to proclaim in my behall the sweetness excellency glory of my royal King It is but our soft flesh that hath raised a slander on the cross of Christ I see now the white side of it My Lord's chains are all overguilded O if Scotland Ireland had part of my feast yet I get not my meat but with many strokes There are none here to whom I can speak I dwell in Kedar's tents Refresh me with a letter from you Few know what is betwixt Christ me Dear Brother upon my salvation this is his truth that we suffer for Christ would not seal a blank charter to souls Courage courage joy joy for evermore O joy unspeakable glorious Oh for help to set my crowned King on high O for love to him who is altogether lovely That love which many waters cannot quench neither can the floods drown I remember you I bear your name on my breast to Christ I beseech you forget not his afflicted prisoner Grace mercy peace be with you Salute in the Lord from me Mr Cuninghame Mr Livingston Mr Ridge Mr Colwart c. Aberd. Feb. 7. 1637. Your Brother fellow prisoner S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 89 Worthy welbeloved Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I am yet waiting what our Lord will doe for his afflicted church for my re-entry to my Lord's house Oh that I could hear the forfeiture of Christ now casten out of his inheritance recalled taken off by open proclamation that Christ were restored to be a Free holder and a landed Hieritour in Scotland That the courts fenced in the name of the bastard Prelats their God-father's the Pop's Bailiffes Sherifes were cryed down Oh how sweet a sight were it to see all the Tribes of the Lord in this land fetching home again our banished king Christ to his own palace his Sanctuary and his throne I shall think it mercy to my soul if my faith shall out-watch all this winter night not nod or slumber till my Lord's summer day dawn upon me It is much if faith hope in the sad nights of our heavie trial escape with a whole skin without crack or crook I confess unbelief hath not reason to be either father or mother to it for unbelief is alwayes an irrationall thing but how can it be but such weak eyes as ours must cast water in a great smoke or that a weak head should not turn giddy when the water runneth deep and strong But God be thanked that Christ in his children can endure a stress storm howbeit soft nature would fall down in peices Oh that I had that confidence as to rest rest on this though he should grind me into small powder bray me into dust scatter the dust to the four winds of heaven that my Lord would gather up the powder make me up a new
as would goe round about the earth over the heaven yea the heaven of heavens ten thousand worlds that I might let all out upon fair fair onely fair Christ But alas I have nothing for him yet he hath much for me it is no gain to Christ that he getteth my little feckless span-length hand-breadth of love If men would have something to doe with their hearts their thoughts that are alwayes rolling up down like men with oares in a boat after sinfull vainities they may finde great sweet employment to their thoughts upon Christ If these frothie fluctuaring restless hearts of ours would come all about Christ look in to his love to bottomless love to the depth of mercy to the unsearchable riches of his grace to enquire after search into the beauty of God in Christ they would be swallowed up in the depth height length breadth of his goodness Oh if men would draw the curtains look in to the inner side of the arke behold how the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily O who would not say let me die let me die ten times to see a sight of him ten thousand deaths were no great price to give for him I am sure sick fainting love would highten the market raise the price to the double for him But alas if men Angels were rouped sold at the dearest price they would not all buy a night's love or a four twentie hours sight of Christ O how happy are they who get Christ for nothing God send me no more for my part of Paradise but Christ and surely I were rich enough as well heaven'd as the best of them if Christ were my heaven I can write no better thing to you then to desire you if ever ye laid Christ in a count to take him up count over again and weigh him again and again And after this have no other to court your love and to wooe your soul's delight but Christ he will be found worthy of all your love howbeit it should swell upon you from the earth to the uppermost circle of the heaven of heavens To our Lord Jesus his love I commend you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JONET KENNEDY 91 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be unto you Ye are not a little obliged to his rich grace who hath separat you for himself for the promised inheritance with the saints in light from this condemned guilty world Hold fast Christ contend for him it is a lawfull plea to goe to holding drawing for Christ it is not possible to keep Christ peaceably having once gotten him except the devil were dead It must be your resolution to set your face against Satan's northern tempests stormes for salvation Nature would have heaven come sleeping to us in our beds we would all buy Christ sobeing we might make price our selves but Christ is worth more blood lives then either ye or I have to give him When we shall come home enter to the possession of our brother's fair kingdom when our heads shall finde the weight of the eternall crown of glory when we shall look back to pains sufferings then shall we see life sorrow to be less then one step or stride from a prison to glory that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome-home to heaven O what then will be the weight of every one of Christ's kisses O how weighty of what worth shall every one of Christ's love-smiles be O when once he shall thrust a wearied traveller's head betwixt his blessed breasts the poor soul shall think one kiss of Christ hath fully paid home fourtie or fiftie yeers wet feet all it's sore hearts light sufferings it had in following after Christ O thrice blinded souls whose hearts are charmed betwitched with dreams shadows feckless things night-vanities night fancies of a miserable life of sin Shame on us who sit still fettered with the love liking of the loan of a piece dead clay O poor fools who are beguiled with painted things this world's fair weather smooth promises rotten worm-eaten hopes may not the devil laugh to see us give out our souls get in but corrupt counterfeit pleasures of sin O for a sight of eternity's glory a little tasting of the Lamb's marriage-supper halt a draught or a drop of the wine of consolations that is up in our banquetting house out of Christ's own hand would make our stomacks loath the brown bread the sowre drink of a miserable life O how far are we berest or wit to chase hunt run till our souls be out of breath after a condemned happiness of our own making doe we not sit far in our own light to make it a matter of bairns-play to skink drink over paradise the heaven that Christ did sweat for even for a blast of smoke for Esau's morning break-fast O that we were out of ourselves dead to this world this world dead crucified to us then we should be close out of love conceit of any masked fairded lover whatsoever then Christ would win conquer to himself a lodging in the inmost yolk of our heart then Christ should be our night-song our morning-song then the very noise din of our welbeloved's feet when he cometh his first knock or rap at the door should be as the newes of two heavens to us Oh that our eyes our soul's-smelling should goe after a blasted sun-burnt flower even this plaistered fair out-sided world then we have neither eye nor smell for the flower of Iâ—sse for that plant of renown for Christ the choisest the fairest the sweetest rose that ever God planted O let some of us die to feel the smell of him let my part of this rotten world be forfeited sold for evermore providing I may anchor my tottering soul upon Christ I know it is sometimes at this Lord what wilt thou have for Christ But O Lord canst thou be budded or propined with any gift for Christ O Lord can Christ be sold or rather may not a poor needy sinner have him for nothing If I can get no more O let me be pained to all eternity with longing for him The joy of hungring for Christ should be my heaven for evermore Alas that I cannot draw souls Christ together but I desire the coming of his KingdoÌ„ that Christ as I assuredly hope he shall would come upon withered Scotland as rain upon the new mowen grass O let the king come O let his Kingdom come O let their eyes rot in their eye holes who will not receive him home again to reign rule in Scotland Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To his
them and our Nobles bid Christ send for himself if he be Christ It were good we should learn in time the way to our strong hold Sir howbeit not acquainted remember my love to your wife I pray God establish you Aberd. March 9 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN EWART Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 94 My very worthy dear Friend I Cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love your love respect to me is a great comfort to me I blesse his high glorious name that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from open avouching of the Son of God nay his cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare It is such a burden as wings are to a bird or sailes to a ship to carry me forward to my harbour I have not much cause to fall in love with the world but rather to wish that he who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to Land keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinfull Land It were good that we prisoners of hope knew of our strong hold to run to before the storm come on Therefore Sir I beseech you by the mercies of God and comforts of his Spirit by the blood of your Saviour by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world keep your garments clean stand for the truth of Christ which ye professe When the time shall come that your eye strings shall break your face wax pale your breath grow cold this house of clay shall totter your one foot shall be over the march in eternity it shall be your comfort joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door that Christianity is an easie task but they will be beguiled Worthy Sir I beseech you make sure work of salvation I have found by experience that all I could doe hath had much adoe in the day of my trial therefore lay up a sure foundation for the time to come I cannot requite you for your your undeserved favours to me my nowafflicted brother but I trust to remember you to God remember me heartily to your kinde wife Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To VVILLIAM FULLERTON Provest of Kirkcudbright 95 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you I am obleiged to your love in God I beseech you Sir let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth for salvation is worth all the world therefore be not afraid of men that shall die the Lord shall doe for you in your suffering for him shall blesse your house seed ye have God's promise that ye shall have his presence in fire water in seven tribulations Your day will wear to an end your sun goe down in death it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it it is a Castle taken by force This earth is but the clay-portion of bastards therefore no wonder the world smile on it's own but better things are laid up for hiâ— lawfully begotten bairnes whoÌ„ the world hateth I have experience to speak this for I would not exchange my prison sad nights with the court honour ease of my adversaries My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to laugh upon me to provide a lodging for me he himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts O how sweet a Master is Christ Blessed are these who lay down all for him I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother Ye have the blessing prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you your Wife Children Remember my love blessing to William Samuel I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord fear his great name to pray twice a day at least to God to read God's word to keep themselves from cursing lying filthie talking Now the onely wise God the presence of the Son of God be with you all Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 96 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you The bearer hereof M. R. F. is most kinde to me I desire you to thank him But none is so kinde as my onely royal King Master whose cross is my garland The King dineth with his prisoner his spikenard casteth a smell He hath led me up to such a pitch nick of joyfull communion with himself as I never knew before When I look back to by-gones I judge my self to have been a childe at A B C. with Christ. Worthy Sir pardon me I dare not conceal it from you it is as a fire iâ— my bowels In hiâ— presâ—nce who seeth me I spâ—ak it I am pained pained with the love of Christ he hath made me sick wounded me Hunger for Christ out-runneth faith I miss faith more then love O if the three Kingdoms would come see O if they knew his kindness to my soul It hath pleased him to bring me to this that I will not strike sails to this world nor flatter it nor adore this clay idol that fools worship As I am now disposed I think I will neither borrow nor lend with it yet I get my meat from Christ with nurture for seven times a day I am lifted up casten down My dumb Sabbaths burthen my heart make it bleed I want not fearful challenges jealousies sometimes of Christ's love that he hath casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree But this is my infirmity By his grace I take my self in these ravings It is kindly that faith love both be sick fevers are kindly to most joyful communion with Christ. Ye are blessed who avouch Christ openly before the Princes of this Kingdom whose eyes are upon you It is your glory to lift him up on his throne to carry his trâ—in bear up the hem of his robe royal He hath an hiding place for M. A. C. against the storm goe on fear not what man can doe The saints seem to have â—he worst of it for apprehensions can make a lye of Christ of his love but it is not so Providence is not rolled upon unequal crooked wheels All things work togâ—ther for the good of these who love God are called according to his purpose Ere it be long we shall see the white side of God's Providence My Brother's case hath moved me not a little He wrote to me your care kindness Sir the prisoner's blessings prayers I trust shall not goe by you He that is able to keep you to present you before
the gate contend for the crown leave all vanities make Christ your garland Let your soul put away your old lovers let Christ have your whole love I have some experience to write of this to you My witnesse is in heaven I would not exchange my chains bonds for Christ my sighs â—or ten worlds glory I judge this clay-idol that Adam's sons are rouping selling their souls for not worth a drink of cold water O if your soul were in my soul's stead how sick would ye be of love for that fairest one that fairest among the sons of men Mayflowers morning vapours summer mist posteth not so fast away as these worm-eaten pleasures that we follow We build castles in the air night dreams are our day idols that we dote on Salvation Salvation is our onely one necessarie thing Sir call home your thoughts to this work to inquire for your welbeloved This earth is the portion of bastards seek the sons inheritance let Christ's truth be dear to you I pawnd my salvation on it that this is the honour of Christ's Kingdom I now suffer for this world I hope shall not come between me my garland that this is the way to life When ye I shall lie lumps of pale clay upon the cold ground our pleasures that we now naturally love shall be lesse then nothing in that day dear Brother fulfill my joy betake you to Christ without further delay ye will be fain at length to seek to him or doe infinitly worse Remember my love to your wife grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING 99 Welbeloved dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you I thank you most kindly for your care love to me in particular to my brother in hiâ— distresse in Edinburgh Goe on thorow your waters without wearying your guide knoweth the way follow him cast your caâ—es tentation upon him let not wormes the sons of men affright you they shall die the moth shall eat them keep your garland there is no lesse at the stake in this game betwixt us the world then our conscience salvation we have need to take heed to the game not to yield to them Let them take other things from us but here in matters of conscience we must hold draw with Kings set our selves in termes of opposition with the shields of the earth O the sweet communion for evermore that hath been between Christ his poor prisoner He wearieth not to be kinde He is the fairest sight I see in Aberd or any part that ever my feet were in Remember my hearty kindness to your wife I desire her to beleeve lay her cares on God make fast work of salvation Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN BROWN 100 Welbeloved and dear Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which I esteem an evidence of your Christian affection to me of your love to my honourable Lord Master My desire is that your communion with Christ may grow that your reckonings may be put by hand with your Lord ere ye come to the water side O who knoweth how sweet Christs ' kisses are who hath been more kindly embraced kissed then I his banished prisoner If the comparison could stand I would not exchange Christ with heaven it self He hath left a dart arrow of love in my soul it paineth me till he come take it out I finde pain of these wounds because I would have possession I know now this worm-eaten apple the plaistered rotten world that the silly Children of this world are beating buffetting pulling others ears for is a portion for bastards good enough that is all they have to look for I offend not that my adversaries stay at home at their own fire-side with more yearly rent then I should I be angry that the good-man of this house of the world casteth a dog a bone to hurt his teeth he hath taught me to be content with a borrowed fire-side an uncouth bed I think I have lost nothing the in come is so great O what telling is in Christ O how weighty is my fair garland my crown my fair supping-hall in glory where I shall be above the blowes and buffettings of Prelats Let this be your desire let your thoughts dwell much upon that blessednesse that abideth you in the other world The fair side of the world will be turned to you quickly when ye shall see the crown I hope ye are neer your lodging O but I would think my self blessed for my part to win the house before the shower come on For God hath a quiver full of arrowes to shoot at shower down upon Scotland Ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ. I desire Patrick to give Christ his young love even the flower of it and put it by all others it were good to start soon to the way He should thereby have a great advantage in the evil day Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FERGUSHILL 101 Reverend and welbeloved in the Lord. I Was refreshed with your letter I am sorry for that lingering and long some visitation that is upon your wife but I know ye take it as a mark of a lawfully begotten childe not of a bastard to be under your father's rod till ye be in heaven it will be but foul weather one shower up another down The lintel-stones pillars of the new Jerusalem suffer moe knocks of God's hammer tool then the common side-wall stones if twenty crosses be written for you in God's book they will come to ninteen then at last to one after that nothing but your head betwixt Christ's breasts for evermore his own soft hand to dry your face wipe away your teares As for publike sufferings for his truth your Master also will see to these Let us put him in his own office to comfort deliver the gloom of Christ's crosse is worse then it self I cannot keep up what he hath done to my soul My dear Brother will I not get help of you to praise to lift Christ up on high He hath pained me with his love hath left a love arrow in my heart that hath made a wound swelled me up with desires so that I am to be pitied for want of reall possession love would have the company of the party loved my greatest pain is the want of him not of his joyes comforts but of a neer union communion This is his truth I am fully perswaded I now suffer for For Christ hath taken upon him to be witnesse to it by his sweet comforts to my soul
shall I think him a false witnesse or that he would subscribe blank paper I thank his high and dreadfull name for what he hath given I hope to keep his seal his pawne till he come loose it himself I defie hell to put me off it but he is Christ he hath met with his prisoner I took instruments in his own hand that it was he no other for him When the Devil fenceth a bastard court in my Lord's ground giveth me forged summonds it will be my shame to misbeleeve after such a fair broad seal yet Satan my apprehension sometimes make a lye of Christ as if he hated me but I dare beleeve no evil of Christ if he would cool my lovefever for himself with reall presence possession I would be rich but I dare not be mislearned and seek more in that kinde howbeit it be no shame to beg at Christ's door I pity my adversaries I grudge not that my Lord keepeth them at their own fire-side hath given me a borrowed bâ—d a borrowed fire-side Let the good-man of the house cast a dog a bone why should I offend I rejoyce that the broken bark shall come to land that Christ will on the shore welcome the sea-sick passenger We have need of a great stock against this day of trial that is coming neither chaff nor corn in Scotland but it shall once passe thorow God's sieve Praise praise pray for me for I cannot forget you I know ye will be friendly to my afflicted brother who is now embarked in the same cause with me Let him have your counsel comforts Remember my love in Christ to your wife her health is coming and her salvation sleepeth not Ye have the prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christ Sowe fast deal bread plentifully The pantry door will be locked on the bairns in appearance ere long Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To his reverend dear Brother Mr ROBERT DOUGLASS 102 My very reverend and dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in paper I cannot but write to you that this which I now suffer for is Christ's truth because he hath been pleased to seal my sufferings with joy unspeakable glorious I know he will not put his seal upon blank paper Christ hath not dumb seals neither will he be witness to a lye I beseech you my dear Brother help me to praise to lift Christ up on his throne above the shields of the earth I am astonished confounded at the greatness of his Kindness to such a sinner I know Christ I shall never be even I shall die in his debt He hath left an arrow in my heart that paineth me for want of reall possession hell cannot quench this coal of God's kindling I wish no man slander Christ or his crosse for my cause for I have much cause to speak much good of him He hath brought me to a nick degree of communion with himself that I knew not before The din gloom of our Lord's cross is more fearfull hard then the cross it self He taketh the bairns in his arms when they come to a deep water at least when they lose ground are put to swim then his hand is under their chin Let me be helped by your prayers remember my love to your kinde wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Your Brother and Christ's prisoner S R. To his loving friend JOHN HENDERSON 103. Loving friend COntinue in the love of Christ the doctrine which I taught you faithfully painfully according to my measure I am free of your blood Fear the dreadfull name of God Keep in minde the examinations which I taught you love the truth of God Death as fast as time flyeth chaseth you out of this life It is possible ye make your reckoning with your judge before I see you let salvation be your care night day set aside hours times of the day for prayer I rejoyce to hear that there is prayer is your house See that your servants keep the Lord's day This dirt god of clay I mean the vain world is not worth the seeking An hireling pastor is to be thrust in upon you in the room to which I have Christ's warrand right Stand to your liberties for the word of God alloweth you a vote in chusing your Pastor What I write to you I write to your wife commend me heartily to her The grace of God be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Your loving friend and Pastor S. R. To Mr HUGH HENDERSON 104 My reverend and dear Brother I hear ye bear the marks of Christ's dying about with you that your brethren have cast you out for your Master's sake Let us wait on till the evening till our reckoning in black white come before our Master Brother since we must have a devil to trouble us I love a raging devil best Our Lord knoweth what for of devil we have need of It is best Satan be in his own skin look like himself Christ weeping looketh like himself also with whom Scribes Pharisees were at yea nay sharpe contradiction Ye have heard of the patience of Iob when he lay in the ashes God was with him clawing curing his scabs letting out his boils comforting his soul he took him up at last That God is not dead yet he will stoop take up fallen bairns many broken legs since Adam's dayes hath he spelked many weary hearts hath he refreshed Bless him for comfort Why None cometh dry from David's well let us goe amongst the rest cast down our toom buckets into Christ's Ocean suck consolations out of him We are not so sore striken but we may fill Christ's hall with weeping We have not gotten our answer from him yet Let us lay up our broken plea's to a full sea keep them till the day of Christ's coming We and this world will not be even till then They would take our garment from us but let us hold them draw Brother it is a strange world if we laugh not I never saw the like of it if there be not paiks the man for this contempt done to the Son of God We must doe as these who keep the bloody napkin to the Bailiffe let him see blood we must keep our wrongs to our Judge let him see our bluddered foul faces Prisoners of hope must run to Christ with the gutters that tears have made on their cheeks Brother for my self I am Christ's dâted one for the present I live upon no deaf nuts as we use to speak he hath opened fountains to me in the wilderness Goe look to my Lord Jesus his love to me is such that I defie the world to finde either brim or bottom in it
I dare not say that I am a dry tree or that I have no room at all in the vineyard but yet I often think that the sparrows are blessed who may resort to the house of God in Anwoth from which I am banished Temptations that I supposed to be striken dead and laid upon their back rise again and revive upon me yea I see that while I live temptations will not die The devil seemeth to brag boast as much as if he had more court with Christ then I have as if he had charmed blasted my ministery that I shall doe no more good in publike but his wind shaketh no corn I will not beleeve Christ would have made such a mint to have me to himself and have taken so much pains upon me as he hath done and then slip so easily from possession and lose the glory of what he had done Nay since I came to Aberden I have been taken up to see the new land the fair palace of the Lamb And will Christ let me see heaven to break my heart never give it to me I shall not think my Lord Jesus giveth a dumb earnest or putteth his sealâ— to blank paper or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises I see that now which I never saw well before 1. I see faith's necessity in a fair day is never known aright but now I miss nothing somuch as faith Hunger in me runneth to fair and sweet promises but when I come I am like a hungry man that wanteth teeth or a weak stomack having a sharp appetite that is filled with the very sight of meat or lik one stupified with cold under the water that would fain come to land but cannot grip any thing casten to him I can let Christ grip me but I cannot grip him I love to be kissed and to sit on Christ's knee but I cannot set my feet to the ground for afflictions bring the cramp upon my faith All I dow doe is to hold out a lame faith to Christ like a begger holding out a stump in stead of an arm or leg and cry Lord Iesus work a miracle O what would I give to have hands arms to grip strongly fold heart somly about Christ's neck to have my claim made good with reall possession I think my love to Christ hath feet abundance ruinneth swiftly to be at him but it wanteth hands and fingers to apprehend him I think I would give Christ every morning my blessing to have as much faith as I have love hunger at least I miss faith more then love hunger 2. I see mortification to be crucified to the world is not so highly accounted of by us as it should be O how heavenly a thing is it to be dead dumb deaf to this world 's sweet musick I confess it hath pleased his Majesty to make me laugh at children who are wooing this world for their match I see men lying about the world as Nobles about a King's court I wonder what they are a doing there As I am at this present I would scorn to court such a feckless petty Princesse or buy this world's kindness with a bow of my knee I scarce now either hear or see what it is that this world offereth me I know it 's little it can take from me as little it can give me I recommend Mortification to you above any thing For alas we but chase feathers flying in the air tire our own spirits for the froth overguilded clay of a dying life One sight of what my Lord hath let me see within this short time is worth a world of worlds 3. I thought courage in the time of trouble for Christ's sake a tâ—ing that I might take up at my foot I thought the very remembrance of the honesty of the cause would be enough but I was a fool in so thinking I have much adoe now to win to one smile but I see joy groweth up in heaven it is above our short arm Christ will be steward dispenser himself nonâ— else but He Therefore now I count much of one dram weight of spirituall joy one smile of Christ's face is now to me as a Kingdom yet he is no niggard to me of comforts Truly I have no cause to say that I am pinched with penury or that the consolations of Christ are dried up for he hath poured down rivers upon a dry wilderness the like of me to my admiration in my very swoonings he holdeth up my head stayeth me with flagons of wine comforteth me with apples My house bed is strowed with kisses of love Praise praise with me O if ye I betwixt us could lift up Christ upon his throne howbeit all Scotland should cast him down to the ground My Brother's case toucheth me neer I hope ye will be kinde to him give him your best counsel Remember my love to your Brother to your wife G. M. desire him to be faithfull repent of his hypocrisie and say that I wrote it to you I wish him salvation Write to me your minde anent C. E. And C. Y. And their wives I. G. Or any others in my parish I fear I am forgotten amongst them but I cannot forget them The prisoner's prayers and blessing come upon you Grace grace be with you Aberd. Feb 9. 1637. Your Brother in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord. BALMERINOCH 109 My very Noble truly honourable Lord. I Make bold to write newes to your Lo from my prison though your Lo have experience more then I can have At my first entry here I was not a little casten down with challenges for old unrepented of sins Satan my own apprehensions made a lye of Christ that he had casten a dry withered tree over the dike of the vineyard but it was my folly blessed be his great name the fire cannot burn the dry tree He is pleased noâ— to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence for it suiteth Christ well to be kinde he dineth suppeth with such a sinner as I am I am in Christ's tutouring here He hath made me content with a borrowed fire-side it casteth as much heat as mine own I want nothing at all but reall possession of Christ And he hath given me a pawne of that also which I hope to keep till he come himself to loose the pawne I cannot get help to praise his high name He hath made me a King over my losses imprisonment banishment onely my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that I dare not say one word He hath done it I will lay my hand upon my mouth If any other had done it to me I could not have born it Now My Lord I must tell your Lo That I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol this plaistered
that will not doe it For my self I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be For by him I am master King of all my crosses I am above the prison the lash of mens tongues Christ triumpheth in me I have been casten down heavie with fears hunted with challenges I was swimming in the depths but Christ had his hand under my chin all the time took good heed that I should not lose breath And now I have gotten my feet again there are love-feasts of joy spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ me We agree well I have court with him I am still welcome to his house O my short arms cannot fathom his love I beseech you I charge you help me to praise Ye have a prisoner's prayers therefore forget me not I desire Sibilla to remember me dearly to all in that Parish who know Christ as if I had named them Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my very dear Brother VVILLIAM LIVINGSTONE 113 My very dear Brother I Rejoyce to hear that Christ hath run away with your young love that ye are so early in the morning matched with such a Lord for a young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil to dwell in be humble and thankfull for grace weigh it not so much by weight as if it be true Christ will not cast water on your smoking coal he never yet put out a dim candle that was lighted at the sun of righteousness I recommend to you prayer watching over the sins of your youth for I know missive letters goe between the Devil young blood Satan hath a friend at court in the heart oâ— youth there pride luxury lust revenge forgetfulness of God are hired as his agents happy is your soul if Christ man the house take the keys himself command all as it suiteth him full well to rule all where ever he is keep him entertain Christ well cherish his grace blow upon your own coal let him tutour you Now for my self know I am fully agreed with my Lord Christ hath put the father me in other's arms many a sweet bargain he made before he hath made this among the rest I reign as King over my crosses I will not flatter a temptation nor give the Devil a good word I defie Hell's iron gates God hath past over my quarrelling of him at my entry here now he feedeth feasteth with me praise praise with me let us exalt his name together Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your brother in Christ S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON of VVhite parke 114 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you I am here the Lord's prisoner patient handled as softly by my Physician as if I were a sick man under cure I was at hard terms with my Lord pleaded with him But I had the worst side It is a wonder he should have suffered the like of me to have nicknamed the Son of his love Christ to call him a changed Lord who had forsaken me but misbelief hath never a good word to speak of Christ. The dross of my cross gathered a scum of fearsin the fire doubtings impatience unbelief challenging of providence as sleeping not regarding my sorrow but my gold smith Christ was pleased to take off the scum burn it in the fire And blessed be my finer he hath made the metall better furnished new supply of grace to cause me hold out weight I hope hath not loosed one grain weight by burning his servant Now his love in my heart casteth a mighty heat He knoweth that the desire I have to be at himsâ—lf paineth me I have sick nights frequent fits of love-fevers for my welbeloved Nothing paineth me now but want of presence I think it long till day I challenge time as too slow in it's pace that holdeth my onely onely fair one my love my welbeloved from me O if we were together once I am like an old crazed ship that hath endured many storms that would fain be in the lee of the shore feareth new storms I would be that nigh heaven that the shadow of it might break the force of the storm the crazed ship might win to land My Lord's sâ—n casteth a heat of love beam of light on my soul. My blessing thrice every day upon the sweet cross of Christ I am not ashamed of my garland The banished â—inister which is the term of Aberden Love Love defieth reproaches The love of Christ hath a croslet of proof on it arrows will not draw blood of it We are more then conquerours through the blood of him that hath loved us Rom. 8. The devil the world they cannot wound the love of Christ. I am further from yeelding to the course of defection then when I came hither sufferings blunt not the fiery edge of love Cast love in the floods of hell it will swim above it careth not for the world 's busked and plaistered offers It hath pleased my Lord so to lyne my heart with the love of my Lord Jesus that as if the field were already won I on the other side of time I laugh at the world 's golden pleasures at this dirtie Idol that the sons of Adam worship This worm-eaten God is that which my soul hath fallen out of love with Sir ye were once my hearer I desire now to hear from you your wife I salute her your children with blessings I am glad that ye are still hand-fasted with Christ goe on in your journey take the city by violence Keep your garments clean Be clean virgins to your husband the Lamb the world shall follow you to heaven's gates ye would not wish it to goe in with you Keep fast Christ's love Pray for me as I doe for you the Lord Jesus be with your Spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr GEORGE GILLESPIE 115 Reverend dear Brother I Received your letter as for my case Brother I bless his glorious name my losses are my gain my prison a palace my sadness joyfulness At my first entry my apprehensions wrought so upon my cross that I becâ—me jealouse of the love of Christ as being by him thrust out of the vineyard I was under great challenges as ordinarily melted gold casteth first a drossie scum Satan our corruption form the first words that the heavy cross speaketh say â—od is angry He loveth you not But our apprehensions are not cannonicall they dite lyes ' of God Christ's love but since my spirit was setled the clay fallen to the bottom of the well I see better what Christ was doing And now my Lord is returned with salvation under his wings now I want little of half a heaven I finde
troubles I have received false reports of Christ's love misbeleeved him in his chastning whereas the event hath said all was in mercy 11. Nothing more moveth me weighteth my soul then that I could never for my heart in my prosperity so wrestle in prayer with God nor be so dead to the world so hungry sick of love for Christ so heavenly minded as when ten stone weight of a heavy cross was upon me 12. That the cross extorted vows of new obedience which ease hath blowen away as chaff before the wind 13. That practice was so short narrow light so long broad 14. That death hath not been often meditated upon 15. That I have not been carefull of gaining others to Christ. 16. That my grace gifts bring forth little or no thankfulness There are somethings also whereby I have been helped As 1. I have benefited by riding alone a long journey in giving that time to prayer 2. By abstinence giving dayes to God 3. By praying for others for by making an errand to God for them I have gotten something for my self 4. I have been really confirmed in many particulars that God heareth prayers and therefore I used to pray for any thing of how little importance soever 5. He enabled me to make no question that this mocked way which is nicknamed is the onely way to heaven Sir these many moe occurrences in your life would be looked unto 1. Thoughts of Atheisme would be watched over as If there be a God in heaven Which will trouble assault the best at some times 2. Growth in grace would be cared for above all things falling from our first love mourned for 3. Conscience made of praying for the enemies who are blinded Sir I thank you most kindly for your care of my brother me also I hope it is laid up for you and remembred in heaven I am still ashamed with Christ's kindness to such a sinner as I am He hath left a fire in my heart that hell cannot cast water on to quench or extinguish it Help me to praise and pray for me for ye have a prisoner's blessing prayers Remember my love to your wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 15. 1367. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knokbrex 121 My very dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I thought to have answered your two letters upon this occasion though I cannot say all that I would Your timeous word not to delight in the cross but in him who sweetneth it came to me in due time I finde the consolations off-fallings that follow the cross of Christ so sweet that I almost forget my self my desire purpose is when Christ's honey combs drop neither to refuse to receive feed upon his comforts nor yet to make joy my bastard-god or my new found heaven But what shall I say Christ very often in his sweet comforts cometh unsent for it were a sin to close the door upon him It is not unlawfull to love delight in Christ's apples when I am not dottingly wooing nor eagerly begging kisses but when they come clean from the timber like kindness it self that cometh of it's own accord then I cannot but laugh upon him who laugheth upon me If joy comforts came single alone without Christ himself I think I would send them back again the gate they came and not make them welcome But when the King's train cometh and the King in the midst of the company O how am I overjoyed with floods of love I fear not that too great speats of love wash away the growing corn loose my plants at the roots Christ doeth no skaith where he cometh but certainly I would wish such spirituall wisdom as to love the bridegroom better then his gifts his propines or drink-money I would be further in upon Christ then at his joyes they but stand in the utter side of Christ I would wish to be in as a seal on his heart in where his love mercy lodgeth beside his heart My welbeloved hath ravished me but it is done with consent of parties it is allowable enough But my dear Brother ere I part with this subject I must tell you that ye may lift up my King in praises with me Christ hath been keeping something these fourteen years for me that I have now gotten in my heavy dayes that I am in for his name sake even an opened coffer of perfumed comforts fresh joyes coming new green powerfull from the fairest fairest face of Christ my Lord. Let the sowre law let crosses let hell be cryed down Love love hath shamed me from my old wayes Whether I have a race to run or some work adoe I see not but I think Christ seemeth to leave heaven to say so his court come down to laugh play sport with a daft bairn I am not this plain with many I write to It is possible I be misconstructed deemed to seek a name but my witness above knoweth I seek to have a good name raised upon Christ. I observe it to be our folly to seek little from Christ because our four-hours may not be our supper nor our propine sent by the Bridegroom our tocher-good nor our earnest our principal summe But I trow few of us know how much may be had of Christ for a four-hours a propine earnest We are like the young heir who knoweth not the whole bounds of his own Lordship Certainly it is more then my part to say O sweetest Lord Iesus what hoâ— beit I were split broken in five thousand sheards or bits of clay so being every sheard â—ad a heart to love thee every one as many tongues as there are stars in heaven to sing praises to thee before man angel for evermore Therefore if my sufferings cry goodness praise honour upon Christ my stipend is well payed Each one knoweth not what a life Christ's love is Scar not at suffering for Christ for Christ hath a chair a cushion sweet peace for a sufferer Christ's trencher from the first mess of the high-table is for a sinfull witness O then Brother who but Christ Who but Christ Hold your tongue of lovers where he cometh out O all flesh O dust ashes O Angels O glorified spirits O all the shields of the world be silent before him come hither behold our Bridegroom stand still wonder for evermore at him Why cease we to love wonder to kiss adore him It is a hard matter that dayes lie betwixt me him hold us asunder O how long how long O how many miles are there to my Bridegroom 's dwelling house It is a pain to frist Christ's love any longer But it may be a drunken man lose his feet miss a step Ye write to me hall biâ—ks are slippery I doe not think my dâting world
will still last that feasts will be my ordinary food I would have humlity patience faith to set down both my feet when I come to the north-side of the cold thorny hill It is ill my common to be swier to goe an errand for Christ to take the wind upon my face for him Lord let me never be a false witness to deny that I saw Christ take the pen in his hand subscribe my writes My Dear Brother ye complain to me ye cannot hold sight of me but were I a footman I should goe at leisure but sometimes the King taketh me into his coach draweth me then I ontrun myself but alas I am still a forlorn transgressour O how unthankfull I will not put you off your sense of deadness but let me say this who gave you Proctor-fee to speak for the law that can speak for it self better then ye can doe I would not have you to bring your dittay in your own bosom with you to Christ Let the old man the new man be summoned before Christ's white throne let them be confronted before Christ let each one of them speak for themselves I hope howbeit the new man complain of his lying among the pots which maketh the beleever look black yet he can say also I am comely as the tents of Kedar Ye shall not have my advice not to bemoan your deadness but I finde by some experience which ye knew before I knew Christ it suiteth not a ransomed man of Christ's buying to goe plea for the sowre law our old forecasteâ— husband for we are now not under the law as a covenant but under grace Ye are in no man's common but Christ's I know he bemoaneth you more then ye doe your self I say this because I am wearied of complaining I thought it had been humility to imagine that Christ was angry with me both because of my dumb sabbaths my hard heart but I feel now nothing but aking wounds my grief whether I will or not swelleth upon me But let us die in Grace's hall-floor pleading before Christ I deny nothing that the Mediator will challenge me of but I turn it all back upon himself Let him look his own old counts if he be angry for he will get no more of me when Christ saith I want Repentance I meet him with this True Lord but thou art made a King Prince to give me Repentance Act. 5â— 31. When Christ bindeth a challenge upon us we must binde a promise back upon him Be woe lay your self in the dust before God which is suitable but withall let Christ take payment in his own hand pay himself off the first end of his own merits else he will come behinde for any thing we can doe I am every way in your case as hard hearted dead as any man but yet I speak to Christ through my sleep Let us then proclaim a free market for Christ swear our selves bare desire cry on him to come without money buy us take us home to our ransom-payer's fire-side let us be Christ's free-boarders because we dow not pay the old we may not refuse to take on Christ's new debt of mercy Let us doe our best Christ will still be behinde with us many terms will run together For my part let me stand for evermore in his book for a forlorn Dyvour I must desire to be this far in his common of new as to desire to kiss his feet I know not how to win to a heartsom fill feast of Christ's love for I dow neither buy nor beg nor borrow yet I cannot want it I dow not want it O if I could praise him yea I would rest content with a heart submissive dying of love for him howbeit I won never personally in at heaven's gates O would to God I could send in my praises to my incomparable welbeloved or cast my love-songs of that matchless Lord Jesus over the walls that they might light in his lap before men Angels Now grace grace be with you Remember my love to your wife daughter brother Iohn Aberd. June 11. 1638. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestown 122 Much honoured worthy Sir GRace Mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you I received few letters since I came hither I am in need of a word A dry plant would have some watering My case betwixt Christ my Lord me standeth between love jealousie faith suspicion of his love It is a marvel he keepeth house with me I make many pleas with Christ but he maketh as many agreements with me I think his unchangeable love hath said I defie thee to break me change me If Christ had such changeable new thoughts of my salvation as I have of it I think I should then be at a sad loss He humoureth not a fool like me in my unbelief but rebuketh me â—athereth kindness upon me Christ is rather like the poor friend needy prisoner begging love then I am I cannot for shame get Christ said Nay of my whole love for he will not want his errand for the seeking God be thanked my bridegroom tireth not of wooing Honour to him he is a wilfull suiter of my soul But as love is his pain is mine that I have nothing to give him His count-book is full of my debts of mercy kindness free love towards me Oh that I might read with watery eyes O that he would give me the interest of interest to pay back Or rather my soul's desire is that he would comprize my person soul body love joy confidence fear sorrow desire drive the Puynd let me be rouped sold to Christ taken home to my creditor's house his fire-side The Lord knoweth if I could I would sell my self without reversion to Christ. O sweet Lord Jesus make a market over-bid all my buyers I dare swear there is a Mystery in Christ which I never saw A mystery of love O if he would lay by the lap of the covering that is over it let my griening soul see it I would break the door be in upon him to get an wombfull of love for I am an hungered â—amished soul. Oh Sir if ye or any other would tell him how sick my soul is dying for want of a hearty draught of Christ's love Oh if I could dote if I may make use of that word in this case as much upon himself as I doe upon his love It is a pity that Christ himself should not rather be my heart's choice then Christ's manifested love It would satisfie me in some measure if I had any bud to give for his love shall I offer him my praises Alas he is more then praises I give it over to get him exalted according to his worth which is above what
once cometh nigh hand taketh a hearty look of Christ's inner side shall never wring nor wrestle themselves out of his love-grips again I would rest contented in my prison yea in a prison without light of sun or candle providing Christ I had a love-bed not of mine but of Christ his own making that we might lie together among the lilies till the day break the shadows flee away Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love is O but to live on Christ's love is a King's life The worst things of Christ even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ his hard cross his black cross is white fair the cross receiveth a beautifull lustre a perfumed smell from Jesus Mydear Brother scar not at it While ye have time to stand upon the watch tower to speak contend with this land plead with your harlot-mother who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her husband Iesus For I would think liberty to preach one day the root top of my desires would seek no more of the blessings that are to be had on this side of time till I be over the water but to spend this my crazed clay-house in his service saving of souls But I hold my peace because he hath done it my shallow ebbe thoughts are not the compass Christ saileth by I leave his wayes to himself for they are far far above me Onely I would contend with Christ for his love and be bold to make a plea with Jesus my Lord for a heart-fill of his love for there is no more left to me What standeth beyond the far end of my sufferings and what shall be the event he knoweth and I hope to my joy shall make me know when God shall unfold his decrees concerning me for there are windings and too 's and fro's in his wayes which blinde bodies like us cannot see This much for further acquaintance So recommending you what is before you to the grace of God I rest Aberd. June 16. 1637. Your very loving Brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr WILLIAM DALGLEISH 125 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I have heard somewhat of your trials in Galloway I bless the Lord who hath begun first in that corner to make you a new Kirk to himself Christ hath the less adoe behinde when he hath refined you Let me entreat you my dearly beloved to be fast to Christ My witness is above My dearest Brother that ye have added much joy to me in my bonds when I hear that ye grow in the grace and zeal of God for your Master Our ministery whether by preaching or suffering will cast a smell through the world both of heaven hell 2 Cor. 2 15 16. I perswade you my dear Brother there is nothing out of heaven next to Christ dearer to me then my ministery the worth of it in my estimation is swelled paineth me exceedingly yet I am content for the honour of my Lord to surrender it back again to the Lord of the vineyard let him doe with me it both what he thinketh good I think my self too little for him let me speak to you how kinde a fellow prisoner is Christ to me Beleeve me this kinde of cross that would not goe by my door but would needs visite me is still the longer the more welcome to me It 's true my silent sabbaths have been are still as glassy yee whereon my faith can scarce hold it's feet I am often blowen on my back and off my feet with a storm of doubting yet truly my bonds all this time cast a mighty and ranck smell of high and deep love in Christ I cannot indeed see through my cross to the far end Yet I beleeve I am in Christ's books in his decree not yet unfolded to me a man triumphing dancing singing over on the other side of the red sea laughing praising the lamb over beyond time sorrow deprivation prelat's indignation losses want of friends death Heaven is not a foul flying in the air as men use to speak of things that are uncertain nay it is well paid for Christ's comprizement lieth on Glory for all the mourners in Zion shall never be loosed Let us be glad rejoyce that we have blood losses wounds to show our Master Captain at his appearance and what we suffered for his cause Woe is me my dear Brother that I say often I am but dry bones which my Lord will not bring out of the grave again that my faithless fears say Oh I am a dry tree that can bear no fruit I am an useless body who â—an beget no children to the Lord in his house Hopes of deliverance look cold uncertain afar off as if I had done with it it is much for Christ if I may say so to get Lawborrows of my sorrow of my quarrelous heart Christ's love playeth me fair play I am not wronged at all but there is a tricking and false heart within me that still playeth Christ foul play I am a cumbersom neighbour to Christ It is a wonder that he dwelleth beside the like of me yet I often get the advantage of the hill above my temptations then I despise the temptation even hell it self the stink of it the instruments of it and am proud of my honourable Master And I resolve whether contrary winds will or not to fetch Christ's harbour I think a willfull stiff contention with my Lord Jesus for his love very lawfull it 's sometimes hard to me to win my meat upon Christ's love because my faith is sick my hope withereth my eyes wax dim unkinde comfort-eclipsing clouds goe over the fair bright light Sâ—n-Jesus And then when I my temptation tryste the matter together we spill all through unbelief Sweet sweet for evermore would my life be if I could keep faith in exercise But I see my fire cannot alwayes cast light I have even a poor man's hard world when he goeth away But surely since my entry hither many a time hath my fair sun shined without a cloud Hot burning hath Christ's love been to me I have no vent to the expression of it I must be content with stoln smothered desires of Christ's glory O how far is his love behinde the hand with me I am just like a man who hath nothing to pay his thousands of debt All that can be gotten of him is to seâ—â—e upon his person Except Christ would seâ—â—e upon my self make the readiest payment that can be of my heart love to himself I have no other thing to give him If my sufferings could doe beholders good edifie his Kirk proclaim the incomparable worth of Christ's love to the world O then how would my soul be overjoyed my sad heart cheered and calmed Dear
Brother I cannot tell what is become of my labours among that people If all that my Lord builded by me be casten down the bottom fallen out of the profession of that parish none stand by Christ whose love I once preached as clearly plainly as I could though far below it's worth excellency to that people if so how can I bear it If another make a foul harvest where I have made a painfull honest sowing it will not soon digest with me but I know his wayes pass finding out Yet my witness both within me above me knoweth my pained breast upon the Lord's day at night my desire to have had Christ awfull amiable sweet to that people is now my joy it was my desire aime to make Christ them one If I see my hopes die in the bud ere they bloom a little come to no fruit I die with grief O my God seek not an account of the violence done to me by my brethren whose salvation I love desire I pray that they I be not heard as contrary parties in the day of our compearance before our judge in that process led by them against my ministery which I received from Christ I know a little inch less then the third part of this span-length hand-breadth of time which is posting away will put me without the stroke above the reach of either brethren or foes And it is a short-lasting injurie done to me to my pains in that part of my Lord's vineyard O how silly an advantage is my deprivation to men seeing my Lord Jesus hath many wayes to recover his own losses is irresistible to compass his own glorious ends that his lilie may grow amongst thorns his little Kingdom exalt it self even under the swords spears of contrary powers But my dear Brother goe on in the strength of his rich grace whom ye serve Stand fast for Christ Deliver the Gospel off your hand your ministery to your Master with a clean undefiled conscience Loose not a pin of Christ's tabernacle Doe not so much as picke with your naile at one board or border of the ark Have no part or dealing upon any terms in a hoof in a closed window or in a bowing of your â—…nce in casting down of the temple But be a mourning speaking witness again them who now ruine Zion Our Master will be on us all in a clap ere ever we wit That day will discover all our white 's our black 's concerning this controversie of poor oppressed Zion Let us make our part of it good that it may be able to abide the fire when hay and stuble shall be burnt to ashes Nothing nothing I say nothing but sound sanctification can abide the Lord's fan I stand to my testimony that I preached often of Scotland Lamentation mourning woe abideth thâ—â— O Scotland O Scotland the fearfull quarrell of a broken Covenant standeth good with thy Lord. Now remember my love to all friends to all my parishoners as if I named each one of them particularly I recommend you God's people committed by Christ to your trust to the rich grace of our alsufficient Lord. Remember my bonds Praise my Lord who beareth me up in my sufferings As ye sinde occasion accorcording to the wisdom given you shew our acquaintance what the Lord hath done to my soul This I seek not verily to hunt my own praise but that my sweetest dearest Master may be magnified in my sufferings I rest Aberd. June 17. 1637. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION MCKNAUGHT 126 Dearly beloved in our Lord Iesus Christ. GRace mercy peace be to you Few know the heart of a stranger prisoner I am in the hands of mine enemies I would honest lawfull means were essayed for bringing me home to my charge now when Mr A. R. Mr H. R. are restored It concerneth you of Galloway most to use supplications and addresses for this purpose and try if by fair means I can be brought back again As for liberty without I be restored to my flock it is little to me for my silence is my greatest prison However it bâ— I wait for the Lord I hope not to rot in my sufferings Lord give me submission to wait on my heart is sad that my dayes flee away I doe no service to my Lord in his house now when his harvest and the souls of perishing people require it but his ways are not like my wayes neither can I finde him out O that he would shine upon my darkness and bring forth my morning light from under the thick cloud that men have spread over me O that the Almighty would lay my cause in a ballance and weigh me if my soul was not taken up when others were sleeping how to have Christ betrothed with a Bride in that part of the land but that day that my mouth was most unjustly and cruelly closed the bloom fell off my branches and my joy did cast the flower How beit I have been casting my self under Christ's feet and wrestling to beleeve under a hidden and covered Lord yet my fainting cometh before I eat and my faith hath bowed with the sore cast and under this almost insupportable weight O that it break not I dare not say that the Lord hath put out my candle and hath casten water upon my poor coal and broken the stakes of my tabernacle But I have tasted bitterness and eaten gall wormwood since that day my Master laid bonds upon me to speak no more I speak not this because the Lord is uncouth to me but because beholders that stand on dry land see not my sea-storm The witnesses of my cross are but strangers to my sad dayes nights O that Christ would let me alone speak love to me come home to me bring summer with him O that I might preach his beauty glory as once I did before my clay-tent be removed to darkness that I might lift Christ off the ground my branches might be watered with the dew of God my joy in his work might grow green again bud send out a flower But I am but a short sighted creature my candle casteth not light afar off He knoweth all that is done to me how that when I had but one joy no more one green flower that I esteemed to be my garland he came in one hour dried up my flower at the root took away mine onely eye mine onely one crown garland What can I say Surely my guiltiness hath been remembered before him he was seeking to take down my sails to land the flower of my delights and to let it lie on the coast like an old broken ship that is no more for the sea But I praise him for this wailed stroke I welcome this surnace God's
wisdom made choice of it for me it must be best because it was his choice O that I may wait for him till the morning of this benighted Kirk break out This poor afflicted Kirk had a fair morning but her night came upon her before her noon-day she was like a traveller forced to take house in the morning of his journey now her adversaries are the chief men in the land her wayes mourn her gates languish her children sigh for bread and there is none to be instant with the Lord that he would come again to his house dry the face of his weeping spouse comfort Zion's mourners who are waiting for him I know he shall make corn to grow upon the top of his withered mount Zion again Remember my bonds forget me not Oh that my Lord would bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel of Christ But O that I may set down my desires where my Lord biddeth me Remember my love in the Lord to your husband God make him faithfull to Christ my blessing to your three children Faint not in prayer for this Kirk Desire my people not to receive a stranger intruder upon my ministery let me stand in that right station that my Lord Jesus gave me Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON At Risco 127 Dear Brother I Earnestly desire to know the case of your soul to understand that ye have made sure work of heaven salvation 1. Remember Salvation is one of Christ's dainties he giveth but to a few 2. That it is violent sweating striving that taketh heaven 3. That it cost Christ blood to purchase that house to sinners to set mankinde down the King 's free tenants free-holders 4. That many make a start toward heaven who fall on their back win not up to the top of the mount it plucketh heart legs from them they sit down give it over because the devil setteth a sweet smelled flower to their nose this fair busked World wherewith they are bewitched so forget or refuse to goe forward 5. Remember many goe far on reform many things can finde tears as Esau did suffer hunger for the truth as Iudas did wish desire the end of the righteous as Balaam did profess fair fight for the Lord as Saul did desire the saints of God to pray for them as Pharaoh Simon Magus did prophesie speak of Christ as Caiaphas did walk softly mourn for fear of judgement as Ahab did put away gross sins idolatry as Iehu did hear the word of God gladly reform their life in many things according to the word as Herod did say Master to Christ I will follow thee whither soever thou goest as the man who offered to be Christ's servant Math. 8. may taste of the vertues of the life to come be partaker of the wonderfull gifts of the holy spirit taste of the good word of God as the Apostates who sin against the Holy Ghost Heb 6. yet all these are but like gold in clink colour watered brass base mettall These are written that we should try our selves not rest till we be a step nearer Christ then sun-burnt withering professors can come 6. Consider it is impossible that your Idol-sins ye can goe to heaven together that they who will not part with these can indeed love Christ at the bottom but onely in word shew which will not doe the business 7. Remember how swiftly God's post time flieth away that your forenoon is already spent your afternoon will come then your evening at last night When ye cannot see to work let your heart be set upon finishing of your journey summing laying your accounts with your Lord. O how blessed shall ye be to have a joyfull welcome of your Lord at night How blessed are they who in time take sure course with their soul Bless his great name for what ye possess in goods children ease worldly contentment that he hath given you seek to be like Christ in humility lowliness of minde be not great intire with the world make it not your God nor your lover that ye trust into for it will deceive you I recommend Christ his love to you in all things let him have the flower of your heart your love set a low price upon all things but Christ cry down in your thoughts clay dirt that will not comfort you when ye get summonds to remove compear before your Judge to answer for all the deeds done in the body The Lord give you wisdom in all things I beseech you sanctifie God in your speaking for holy and reverend is his name be temperate sober companionry as it is called is a sin that holdeth men out of heaven I will not beleeve that ye will receive the ministry of a stranger who will preach a new uncouth doctrine to you Let my salvation stand for it if I delivered not the plain whole counsel of God to you in his word Read this letter to your wife remember my love to her request her to take heed to doe what I write to you I pray for you yours Remember me in your prayers to our Lord that he would be pleased to send me amongst you again Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To Mr HUGH HENDERSON 128 Reverend and dear Brother WHo knoweth but the wind may turn in to the West again upon Christ his desolate bride in this land And that Christ may get his summer by course again for he hath had ill weather this long time could not finde law or justice for himself his truth these many years I am sure the wheels of this crazed broken Kirk run all upon no other axel-tree nor is there any other to roll them cogge them drive them but the wisdom good pleasure of our Lord And it were a just trick glorious of never-sleeping providence to bring our brethrens darts they have shot at us back upon their own heads Suppose they have two strings in their bow can take one as another saileth them yet there are moe then three strings upon our Lord's bowe and besides he cannot miss the white that he shooteth at I know he shuffleth up down in his hand the great body of heaven earth that Kirk Commonwealth are in his hand like a stock of Cards that he dealeth â—he play to the mourners in Zion and these that say lye down that we may goe over you at his own soveraign pleasure And I am sure Zion's adversaries in this play shall not take up their own stakes again O how sweet a thing it is
to trust in him When Christ hath sleeped out his sleep if I may speak so of him who is the watch-man of Israel that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and his own are tried he will arise as a strong man after wine and make bare his holy arm and put on vengeance as a cloak and deal vengeance thick double amongst the haters of Zion It may be we see him sow and send down maledictions vengeances as thick as drops of rain or hail upon his enemies For our Lord oweth them a black day he useth duely to pay his debts neither his friends followers nor his foes adversaries shall have it to say that he is not faithfull exact in keeping his word I know no bar in God's way but Scotland's guiltiness he can come over that impediment break that bar also then say to guilty Scotland as he said Ezek. 36. Not for your sakes c. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue to keep the word of God's patience keepeth still the saints dry in the water cold in the fire breathing blood-hot in the grave What are prisons of iron walls gates of brass to Christ Not so good as feal dikes fortifications of straw or old tottering walls If he give the word then the chains will fall off the arms legs of his prisoners God be thanked that our Lord Jesus hath the tutouring of King and Court and Nobles and that he can dry the gutters and the mires in Sion and lay causeys to the Temple with the carcases of bastard Lord-Prelats idol-shepherds The corn on the house-tops got never the husband-man's prayers so is seen on it for it filleth not the hand of mowers Christ truth innocency worketh even under the earth verily there is hope for the righteous We see not what conclusions pass in heaven anent all the affaris of God's house we need not give hire to God to take vengeance of his enemies for Justice worketh without hire O that the seed of hope would grow again and come to maturity And that we could importune Christ double our knocks at his gate cast our cries shouts over the wall that he might come out make our Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth give us Salvation for walls bulwarks If Christ bud grow green and bloom bear seed again in Scotland his father send him two summers again in one year bless his crop O what cause have we to rejoyce in the free salvation of our Lord to set up our banners in the name of our God! O that he would hasten the confusion of the leprous strumpet the mother mistress of abominations in the earth take graven images out of the way come in with the Iews in troops agree with his old out cast forsaken wife take them in again to his bed of love Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Master and Lord S. R. To the Lady LARGIRIE 129. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I exhort you in the Lord to goe on in your journey to heaven to be content of such fare by the way as Christ his followers have had before you for they had alwayes the wind on their faces our Lord hath not changed the way to us for our ease but will have us following our sweet guide Alas how doeth sin dog us in our journey retard us What fools are we to have a by-god or an other lover or match to our souls beside Christ It were best for us like ill bairns who are best heard at home to seek our own home to sell our hopes of this little clay Innes idol of the earth where we are neither well summered nor well wintered Oh that our souls would fall so at oddes with the love of this world as to think of it as a traveller doeth of a drink of water which is not any part of his treasure but goeth away with the using for ten miles journey maketh that drink to him as nothing O that we had as soon done with this world and could as quickly dispatch the love of it But as a childe cannot hold two apples in his little hand but the one putteth the other out of it's room so neither can we be masters and Lords of two loves Blessed were we if we could make our selves masters of that invaluable treasure the love of Christ or rather suffer our selves to be mastered and subdued to Christ's love so as Christ were our all things all other things our nothings the refuse of our delights O let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind tide call for us Death is the last thief that shall come without din or noise of feet take our souls away we shall take our leave at Time fâ—ce Eternity our Lord shall lay together the two sides of this earthly Tabernacle fold us lay us by as a man layeth by his clothes at night put the one half of us in a house of clay the dark grave the other half of us in heaven or hell Seek to be found of your Lord in peace gather in your flitting put your soul in order for Christ will not give a nail-breadth of Time to our little sand-glass Pray for Zion for me his prisoner that he would be pleased to bring me amongst you again full of Christ fraughted laden with the blessings of his Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord and Master S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 130 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you I remain still a prisoner of hope doe think it service to the Lord to wait on still with submission till the Lord's morning-skie break his summer day dawn for I am perswaded it is a piece of the chief errand of our life that God sent us for some years down to this earth among devils men the fire-brands of the devil temptations that we might suffer for a time here amongst our enemies otherwise he might have made heaven to wait on us at our coming out of the womb and have carried us home to our countrey without letting us set down our feet in this knotty and thorny life but seeing a piece of suffering is carved to every one of us less or more as infinite wisdom hath thought good our part is to harden and habituat our soft and thin skinned nature to endure fire and water devils lions men losses woe hearts as these that are looked upon by God Angels men devils O what folly is it to sit down weep upon a decree of God that is both dumb deaf at our tears must stand still as unmovable as God who made it for who can come behinde our Lord to
pull up the four stakes of this clay tent of the earth the last pickle of sand shall be at the nick of falling down in your watch-glass the master shall call the servants of the vincyard to give them their hire ye will esteem the bloom of this world's glory like the colours of the rain-bow that no man can put in his purse treasure Your labours pains shall then smile upon you My Lord now hath given me experience howbeit weak small that our best fare here is hunger we are but at God's by-board in this lower house we have cause to long for supper-time the high table up in the high palace This world deserveth nothing but the utter court of our soul. Lord hasten the marriage-supper of the Lamb. I finde it still peace to give up with this present world as with an old decourted cast-off lover My bread drink in it is not so much worth that I should not loath the Innes pack up my desires for Christ that I have sent out to the feckless creatures in it Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat Brother Crhist's prisoner S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 132 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I have that confidence that your soul mindeth Christ salvation I beseech you in the Lord give more pains diligence to fetch heaven then the countrey-sort of lazie professors who think their own faith their own godliness because it is their own best content themselves with a coldrife custom course with a resolution to summer winter in that sort of profession that the multitude and the times favour most and are still shaping and clipping and carving their faith according as it may best stand with their summer-sun and a whole skin and so breath out both hot and cold in God's matters according to the course of the times This is their compass they sail toward heaven by in stead of a better Worthy dear Sir separate your self from such and bend your self to the utmost of your strength breath in running fast for salvation and in taking Christ's Kingdom use violence It cost Christ and all his followers sharp showers and hot sweats ere they won to the top of the mountain But still our soft nature would have heaven coming to our bed-side when we are sleeping lving down with us that we might goe to heaven in warm clothes but all that came there â—ound wet feet by the way sharp storms that did take the hide off their face â—ound to 's fro's up's down's many enemies by the way It is impossible a man can take his lusts to heaven with him such wares as these will not be welcome there O how loath are we to forgoe our packalds burdens that hinder us to run our race with patience It is no small work to displease anger nature that we may please God O if it be hard to win one foot or half an inch out of our own will out of our own wit out of our own ease worldly lusts so to deny our self to say It is not I but Christ not I but grace not I but God's glory not I but God's love constraining me not I but the Lord's word not I but Christ's commanding power as King in me O what pains what a death is it to nature to turn me my self my lust my ease my credit over in my Lord my Saviour my King my God my Lord's will my Lord's grace But alas that idol that whorish creature my self is the master-idol we all bow to What made Evah miscarry what hurried her headlong upon the forbidden fruit but that wretched thing her self What drew that brother-murtherer to kill Abel That wilde himself What drove the old world on to corrupt their wayes Who but themselves their own pleasure What was the cause of Solomon's falling into idolatry multiplying of strange wives What but himself whom he would rather pleasure then God What was the hook that took David snared him first in adultery but his self-lust then in murther but his self-credit self-honour What led Peter on to deny his Lord Was it not a piece of himself self-self-love to a whole skin What made Iudas sell his Matter for 30 pieces of money but a piece of self-love idolizing of avaritions self What made Demas to goe off the way of the Gospel to embrace this present world even self love love of gain for himself Every man blameth the devil for his sins but the great devil the house-devil of every man the house-devil that eateth lieth in every man's bosom is that idol that killeth all himself O blessed are they who can deny themselves put Christ in the room of themselves O would to the Lord I had not a my self but Christ nor a my lust but Christ noâ— a my ease but Christ nor a my honour but Christ O sweet word Gal. 2 20. I live no more but Christ liveth in me O if every one would put away himself his own self his own ease his own pleasure his own credit his own twenty things his own hundred things that he setteth up as idols above Christ Dear Sir I know ye will be looking back to your old self to your self-lust self-idol that ye set up in the lusts of youth above Christ. Worthy Sir pardon this my freedom of love God is my witness that it is out of an earnest desire after your soul 's eternal welfare that I use this freedom of speech Your sun I know is lower your evening skie and sun-setting nearer then when I saw you last Strive to end your task before night and to make Christ your-self and to acquaint your love and your heart with the Lord Stand now by Christ and his truth when so many fail foully and are false to him I hope ye love him and his truth let me have power with you to confirm you in him I think more of my Lord 's sweet cross then of a crown of gold and a free Kingdom lying to it Sir I remember you in my prayers to the Lord â—…ding to my promise Help me with your prayers that our Lord would be pleased to bring me amongst you again with the Gospel of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweetest Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness younger 133 Dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long exceedingly to hear of the case of your soul which hath a large share both of â—y prayers carefull thoughts Sir remember that a precious treasure prize is upon this short play that ye are now upon even the eternity of well or woe to your soul standeth upon the little point of your ill or well employed short swift
posting sand-glass Seek the Lord while he may be found the Lord waiteth upon you Your soul is of no little price gold or silver of as much bounds as would cover the highest heavens round about cannot buy it To live as others doe to be free of open sins that the world crieth shame upon it will not bring you to heaven as much civility countrey-discretion as would lye between you heaven will not lead you one foot or one inch above condemned nature therefore take pains upon seeking of salvation give your will wit humour the green desires of youth's pleasures off your hand to Christ It is not possible for you to know till experience teach you how dangerous a time Youth is It is like green wet timber when Christ casteth fire on it it taketh not fire There is need here of more then ordinary pains for corrupt nature hath a good back-friend of Youth sinning against light will put out your candle stupifie your conscience bring upon it moe coverings skins less feeling sense of guiltiness when that is done the Devil is like a mad horse that hath broken the bridle runneth away with his rider whither he listeth Learn to know that which the Apostle knew the deceitfulness of sin strive to make prayer reading holy company holy conference your delight when delight cometh in ye shall by little little smell the sweetness of Christ till at length your soul be over head ears in Christ's sweetness then shall ye be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord to know thâ— ravishments of spiritual love the glory excellency of a sâ—en revealed felt embraced Christ then ye shall not be able to loose your self off Christ to binde your soul to old lovers then never till then are all the paces motions walkings wheels of your soul in a right tune in a spiritual temper But if this world the lusts thereof be your delight I know not what Christ can make of you ye cannot be mettall to be a vessel of glory mercy as the Lord liveth thousand thousands are beguiled with security because God wrath judgement is not terrible to them stand in aw of God of the warnings of a checking rebuking conscience make others to see Christ in you moving doing speaking thinking your actions will smell of him if he be in you there is an instinct in the new born babes of Christ like the instinct of nature that leades birds to build their nests bring up their young love such such places as woods forests wildernesses better then other places The instinct of nature maketh a man love his mother-countrey above all countreys The instinct of renewed nature supernatural grace will lead you to such such works as to love your countrey above to sigh to be clothed with your house not made with hands to call your borrowed prison here below a borrowed prison to look upon it servant-like pilgrim-like And the pilgrim's eye look is a disdainfull like discontented cast of his eye his heart crying after his eye Fy fy tâ— is is not like my countrey I recommend to you the mending of a hole reforming of a failing one or other every week put off a sin or a piece of it as of anger wrath lust intemperance every day that ye may more easily master the remnant of your corruption God hath given you a wife love her let her breasts satisfie you for the Lord's sake drink no waters but out of your own cistern strange wells are poison Strive to learn some new way against your corruption from the man of God M. W. D. or other servants of God sleep not sound till ye finde your self in that case that ye dare look death in the face durst hazard your soul upon eternity I am sure many ells inches of the short threed of your life are by hand since I saw you and that threed hath an end and ye have no hands to cast a knot adde one day or a finger-breadth to the end of it When hearing and seeing and the utter walls of the clay-house shall fall down life shall render the besieged castle of clay to death judgement ye finde your time worn ebbe run out what thoughts will ye then have of idol-pleasures that possibly are now sweet what bud or hire would ye then give for the Lord's favour what a price would ye then give for pardon It were not amiss to think what if I were to receive a doom to enter into a surnace of fire brimstone What if it come to this that I shall have no portion but utter darkness And what if 〈◊〉 be brought to this to be banished from the presence of God to be given over to God's serjeants the Devil the power of the second Death Put your soul by supposition in such a case â—…sider what horrour would take hold of you what then ye would esteem of pleasing your self in the course of sin O dear Sir for the Lord's sake awake to live righteously love your poor soul after ye have seen this my letter say with yourself the Lord will seck an account of this warning I have received Lodge Christ in your family Receive no stranger hireling as your Pastor I bless your children Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawful and loving Pastor S. R. To my Lord BOYD. 134 My very honourable good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to your Lo Out of the worthy report that I hear of your Lo zeal for this born down oppressed Gospel I am bold to write to your Lo beseeching you by the mercies of God by the honour of our royal and princely King Jesus by the sorrows tears desolation of your afflicted mother-church by the peace of your conscience your joy in the day of Christ that your Lo would goe on in the strength of your Lord and in the power of his might to bestir your self for the vindicating of the fallen honour of your Lord Jesus O blessed hands for evermore that shall help to put the crown upon the head of Christ again in Scotland I dare promise in the name of our Lord that this shall fasten fix the pillars the stakes of your own honourable house upon earth if ye lend lay in pledge in Christ's hand upon spiritual hazard life estate house honour credit moyen friends the favour of men suppose King 's with three crownâ— sobeing ye may bear witness acquit your self as a man of valour and courage to the Prince of your salvation for the purging of his temple sâ—…eeping out the Lordly Diotrephes's time-courting Demas's corrupt Hymeneus's Philetus's other such oxen that with their dung defile the Temple of the
am but withered dry bones But since ye desire me to write to you either help me to set Christ on high for his running-over love in that the heat of his sweet breath hath melted a frozen heart else I think ye doe nothing for a prisoner I am fully confirmed that it is the honour of our Law-giver I suffer for now I am not ashamed to give out letters of recommendation of Christ's love to as many as will extoll the Lord Jesus his cross If I had not sailed this sea-way to heaven but had taken the land-way as many doe I should not have known Christ's sweetness in such a measure But the truth is let no man thank me for I caused not Christ's wind to blow upon me His love came upon a withered creature whether I would or not yet by coming it procured from me a welcome A heart of iron iron doors will not hold Christ out I give him leave to break iron locks come in that is al now I know not whether pain of love for want of possâ—ssion or sorrow that I dow not thank him paineth me most but both work upon me For the First O that he would come satisfie the longing soul fill the hungry soul with these good things I know indeed my guiltiness may be a bar in his way but he is God ready to forgive And for the other woe woe is me that I cannot finde a heart to give back again my unworthy little love for his great sea-full of love to me O that he would learn me this piece of gratitude O that I could have leave to look in thorow the hole of the door to see his face sing his praises or could break up one of his chamber windows to look in upon his delighting beauty till my Lord send more any little communion with him one of his love-looks should be my begun heaven I know he is not Lordly neither is the bridegroom's love proud though I be black unlovely unworthy of him I would seek but leave withall grace to spend my love upon him I counsel you to think highly of Christ of free free grace more then ye did before for I know that Christ is not known amongst us I think I see more of Christ then ever I saw yet I see but little of what may be seen O that he would draw by the curtains that the King would come out of his gallerie his palace that I might see him Christ's love is young glory young heaven It would soften hell's pains to be filled with it What would I refuse to suffer if I could but get a draught of love at my hearts desire O what price can be given for him Angels cannot weigh him O his weight his worth his sweetness his overpassing beauty If men Angels would come look to that great Princely one their ebbeness would never take up his depth their narrowness would never comprehend his breadth height length If ten thousand thousand worlds of Angels were created they might all tire themselves in wondering at his beauty begin again to wonder of new O that I could win nigh him to kiss his feet to hear his voice to finde the smell of his ointments But Oh alas I have little little of him yet I long for more Remember my bonds help me with your prayers for I would not niffer or exchange my sad hours with the joy of my velvet-adversaries Grace be with you Aberd. June 10. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JAMES FLEMING 138 Reverend welbeloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which hath refreshed me in my bonds I cannot but testifie unto you my dear Brother what sweetness I finde in our Master's cross but alas what can I either doe or suffer for him If I my alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation I would think them too little for that lovely one our welbeloved but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings that I finde not wayes how to set out the praises of his love to others I am not able by tongue pen or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with him but he knoweth whom I love to serve in the spirit what I would doe suffer by his own strength sobeing I might make my Lord Jesus lovely sweet to many thousands in this land I think it amongst God's wonders that he will take any praise or glory or any testimony to his honourable cause from such a forlorn sinner as I am But when Christ worketh he needeth not ask the question by whom he will be glorious I know seeing his glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing to set up such a fair house for man Angels so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness power wisdom if I were burnt to ashes out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved body he could raise glory to himself His glory is his end Oh that I could joyn with him to make it my end I would think that fellowship with him sweet glorious But alas few know the guiltiness that is on my part it is a wonder that this good cause hath not been marred and spilt in my foul hands But I rejoyce in this that my sweet Lord Jesus hath found something adoe even a ready market for his free grace and incomparable and matchless mercy in my wants Onely my loathsom wretchedness and my wants have qualified me for Christ and the riches of his glorious grace he behooved to take me for nothing or else to want me Few know the unseen private reckonings betwixt Christ and me yet his love his boundless love would not bide away nor stay at home with himself yet I dow not make it welcome as I ought when it 's come unsent for and without hire How joyfull is my heart that ye write ye are desirous to joyn with me in praising for it is charity to help a Dyvour to pay his debts but when all have helped me my name shall stand in his count-book under ten thousand thousands of summes unpayed But it easeth my heart that â—is dear servants will but speak of my debts to such a sweet creditour I desire he may lay me in his own ballance weigh me if I would not fain have a feast of his boundless love made to my own soul and to many others One thing I know we shall not all be able to come neer his excellency with eye heart or tongue for he is above all created thoughts All nations before him are as nothing as less then nothing he â—itteth in the circuit of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth are as grashoppers before him O that men would praise him Ye complain of your private case Alas I am not the
border of time shall put your foot within the march of eternity all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a bleaze of thorns or straw your poor soul shall be crying Lodging lodging for God's sake Then shall your soul be more glad at one of your Lord 's lovely homely smiles then if ye had the charters of three worlds for all eternity Let pleasures gain will desires of this world be put over in God's hands as arrested and fenced goods that ye cannot intromet with Now when ye are drinking the ground of your cup ye are upon the utmost ends of the last link of time old age like death's long shadow is casting a covering upon your days it is no time to court this vain life to set love heart upon it It is near after supper seek rest ease for your soul in God through Christ Beleeve me I finde it hard wrestling to play fair with Christ to keep good quarters with him keep love to him in integrity life to keep a constant course of sound solid daily communion with Christ temptatations are daily breaking the threed of that course it is not easie to cast a knot again many knots make evil work O how fair have many ships been plying before the wind that in an hour's space have been lying in the sea bottom How many professours cast a golden lustre as if they were pure gold yet are under that skin cover but base reprobate mettall And how many keep breath in their race many miles yet come short of the prize the garland Dear Sir my soul would mourn in secret for you if I knew your case with God to be but false work Love to have you anchored upon Christ maketh me fear your tottering slips False under-water not seen in the ground of an enlightned conscience is dangerous so is often failing sinning against light Know this that these who never had sick nights nor days in conscience for sin cannot have but such a peace with God as will undercot break the flesh again and end in a sad war at death O how fearfully are thousands beguiled with false hide growen over old sins as if the soul were cured and healed Dear Sir I saw ever nature mighty lofty heady strong in you it was more for you to be mortified dead to the world then another common man Ye will take a low ebbe a deep cut a long lancâ— to goe to the bottom of your wounds in saving humiliation to make you a won prey for Christ Be humbled walk softly down down for God's sake my dear worthy Brother with your topsail Stoop Stoop it is a low entry to goe in at heaven's gates There is infinite Justice in the party ye have to doe with it is his nature not to acquit the guilty the sinner The Law of God will not want one farthing of the sinner God forgetteth not both the Cautioner the sinner every man must pay either in his own person O Lord save you from that payment or in his cautioner Christ. It is violence to corrupt nature for a man to be holy to lie down under Christ's feet to quite will pleasure wordly love earthly hope an itching of heart after this fairded overguilded world to be content that Christ trample upon all Come in come in to Christ and see what ye want finde it in him He is the short cut as we use to say and the nearest way to an outgate of all your burdens I dare avouch ye shall be dearly welcome to him my soul would be glad to take part of the joy ye should have in him I daresay Angels pens Angels tongues nay as many worlds of Angels as there are drops of water in all the seas fountains and rivers of the earth cannot paint him out to you I think his sweetness since I was a prisoner hath swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens O for a soul as wide as the outmost circle of the highest heaven that containeth all to contain his love And yet I could hold little of it O world's wonder O if my soul might but lie within the smell of his love suppose I could get no more but the smell of it O but it is long to that day when I shall have a free world of Christ's love O what a sight to be up in heaven in that fair orchard of the new Paradise to see and smell and touch and kiss that fair field-flower that ever green tree of life His bare shadow were enough for me a sight of him would be the earnest of heaven to me Fy sy upon us that we have love lying rusting beside us or which is worse wasted away upon loathsom objects Christ should lie his alone Woe woe is me that Sin hath made so many mad men seeking the fool's Paradise fire under ice some good and desireable thing without and apart from Christ Christ Christ nothing but Christ can cool our love's burning languor O thirsty love wilt thou set Christ the well of life to thy head drink thy fill drink and spare not drink love be drunken with Christ Nay alas the distance betwixt us and Christ is a death O if we were clasped in other's arms We should never twin again except heaven twinned and sundered us that cannot be I desire your children to seek this Lord Desire them from me to be requested for Christ's sake to be blessed happy and come take Christ all things with him Let them beware of glassy slippery youth of foolish young motions of worldly lusts of deceivable gain of wicked company of cursing lying blaspheming and foolish talking Let them be filled with the Spirit acquaint themselves with daily praying with the store-house of wisdom and comfort the good word of God Help the souls of the poor people O that my Lord would bring me again among them that I might tell uncouth great tales of Christ to them Receive not a stranger to preach any other doctrine to them Pray for me his prisoner of hope I pray for you without ceasing I write my blessing earnest prayers the love of God the sweet presence of Christ to you and yours and them Grace grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawful and loving Pastor S. R. To the Earle of LOTHIAN 141 Right honourable my very worthy and Noble Lord. OUt of the honourable good report that I hear of your Lo goodwill kindness in taking to heart the honourable cause of Christ his afflicted Church wronged truth in this land I make bold to speak a word in paper to your Lo at this distance which I trust your Lo will take in good part It is your Lo honour credit to put to
they who have past their hard and wearisom time of apprentiship and are now free-men and citizens in that joyfull high city the new Ierusalem Alas that we should be glad of and rejoyce in our fetters our prison-house this dear Innes a life of sin where we are absent from our Lord and so far from our home O that we could get bonds law-suretiship of our love that it fasten not it self on these clay-dreams these clayshadows and worldly vanities We might be oftener seeing what they are doing in heaven and our heart more frequently upon our sweet treasure above We smell of the smoke of this lower house of the earth because our heart and our thoughts are here If we could haunt up with God we should smell of heaven and of our countrey above we should look like our countrey and like strangers or people not born or brought up hereaway Our crosses would not bite upon us if we were heavenly minded I know no obligation the saints have to this world seeing we fare but upon the smoke of it if there be any smoke in the house it bloweth upon our eyes all our part of the table is scarce worth a drink of water when we are striken we dare not weep but steal our grief away betwixt our Lord and us and content our selves with stoln sorrow behinde backs God be thanked we have many things that so stroake us against the hair as we may pray God keep our better home God bless our Father's house not this smoke that bloweth us to seek our best lodging I am sure this is the best fruit of the cross when we from the hard fare of the dear Innes cry the more that God would send a fair wind to â—…nd us hungred oppressed strangers at the door of our Father's house which now is made in Christ our kindly heritage O then let us pull up the stakes stoups of our tent take our tent on our back goe with our flitting to our best home for here we have no continuing city I am waiting in hope here to see what my Lord will doe with me Let him make of me whath he pleaseth providing he make glory to himself out of me I care not I hope yea I am now sure that I am for Christ all that I can or may make is for him I am his everlasting debter or dyvour still shall be for alas I have nothing for him he getteth little service of me Pray for me that our Lord would be pleased to give me house-room that I may serve him in the calling he hath called me unto Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT STUART 143. My Very dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you Ye are heartily welcome to my world of suffering heartily wel-come to my Master's house God give you much joy of your new Master If I have been in the house before you I were not faithfull to give the house an ill name or to speak evil of the Lord of the family I rather wish God's Holy Spirit O Lord breath upon me with that Spirit to tell you the fashions of the house One thing I can say by on-waiting ye will grow a great man with the Lord of the house Hang on till ye get some good from Christ Lay all your loads your weights by faith upon Christ Ease your self let him bear all he can he dow he will bear you howbeit hell were upon your back I rejoyce that he is come hath chosen you in the furnace it was even there where ye he set tryst that is an old gate of Châ—ist's he keepeth the good old fashion with you that was in Hosea's days Hos. 2 14. Therefore behold I will allure her bring her to the wilderness and speak to her heart There was no talking to her heart while he she were in the fair flourishing city at ease but out in the cold hungry waste wilderness he allureth her he whispered in newes into her ear there said Thou art mine What would ye think of such a bed Ye may soon doe worse then say Lord holds all Lord Iesus a bargain be it it shall not goe back on my side Ye have gotten a great advantage in the way to heaven that ye have started to the gate in the morning Like a fool as I was I suffered my sun to â—e high in the heaven and near afternoon before ever I took the gate by the end I pray you now keep the advantage ye have My heart be not lazie set as quickly up the bâ—ae on hands feet as if the last pickle of sand were running out of your glass death were coming to turn the glass be very carefull to take heed to your feet in that slippery dangerous way of youth that ye are walking in The devil temptations now have the advantage of the brae of you are upon your wand-hand your working hand Dry timber will soon take fire Be covetous greedy of the grace of God beware that it be not holiness that cometh onâ—ly from the cross for too many are that way disposed Psal. 78. 34. When he slew them then they sought him they râ—turned enquired early after God v. 35. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongues It is a part of our hypocrisie to give God â—air white words when he hath us in his grips if I may speak so to flatter him till we win to the fair fields again Try well green godliness and exâ—mine what it is ye love in Christ if ye love but Christ's sunny side would have onely summer-weather a land-gate not a sea-way to heaven your profession will play you a slip and the winter-well will goe dry again in summer Make no sports nor bairns-play of Christ But labour for a sound lively sight of sin that ye may judge your self an undone man a damned slave of hell sin one dying in your own blood except Christ come and rue upon you take you up and therefore make sure fast work of conversion Cast the earth deep and down down with the old work the building of confusion that was there before let Christ lay new work make a new creation within you look if Christ's rain goeth down to the root of your withered plants and if his love wound your heart while it bleed with sorrow for sin if ye can pant fall a swoon be like to die for that lovely one Jesus I know Christ will not to be hid where he is grace will ever speak for it self be fruitfull in weldoing The sanctified cros is a fruitfull tree it bringeth forth many apples If I should tell you by some weak experience what I have found in Christ ye or others could hardly
beleeve me I thought not the hundred part of Christ long since that I doe now though alas my thoughts are still infinitely below his worth I have a dwining sickly and pained life for a reall possession of him and am troubled with lovebrashes and love-fevers but it is a sweet pain I would refuse no conditions not hell excepted reserving alwayes God's hatred to buy possession of Jesus but alas I am not a merchant who have any money to give for him I must either come to a good cheap market where wares are had for nothing else I goe home empty But I have casten this work upon Christ to get me himself I have his faith truth promise as a pawne of his all engaged that I shall obtain that which my hungry desires would be at I esteem that the choice of my happiness And for Christ's cross especially the garland the flower of all crosses to suffer for his name I esteem it more then I can write or speak to you And I write it under mine own hand to you it is one of the steps of the ladder up to our countrey Christ who ever be one is still at the heavy end of this black tree so it is but as a feather to me I need not run at leisure because of a burthen on my back my back never bare the like of it the more heavily crossed for Christ the soul is still the lighter for the journey Now would to God all cold-blooded faint-hearted souldiers of Christ would look again to Jesus to his love when they look I would have them to look again again fill themselves with beholding of Christ's beauty I dare say then that Christ should come in great court request with many The virgins would flock fast about the Bridegroom they would embrace and take hold of him not let him goe But when I have spoken of him till my head rive I have said just nothing I may begin again A God-head a God-head is a world's wonder Set ten thousand thousand new made worlds of angels and elect men double them in number ten thousand thousand thousand times let their heart tongues be ten thousand thousand times more agile large then the heart tongues of the Seraphims that stand with six wings before him Isa. 6. 2. When they have said all for the glorifying praising of the Lord Jesus they have but spoken little or nothing his love will bide all possible creatures to praise Oh if I could wear this tongue to the stump in extolling his highness but it is my daily growing sorrow that I am confounded with his incomparable love he doeth so great things for my soul he got never yet any thing of me worth the speaking of Sir I charge you help me to praise him It is a shame to speak of what he hath done for me what I doe to him again I am sure Christ hath many drowned Dyvours in heaven beside him when we are conveened man angel at the great day in that fair last meeting we are all but his drowned Dyvours It is hard to say who oweth him most If men could doe no more I would have them to wonder If we cannot be filled with Christ's love we may be filled with wondering Sir I would I could perswade you to grow sick for Christ to long after him be pained with love for himself but his tongue is in heaven who can doe it To him his rich grace I recommend you I pray you pray for me forget not to praise Aberd. June 17. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady GAITGIRTH 144 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I long to know how matters stand betwixt Christ and your soul I know ye finde him still the longer the better time cannot change him in his love ye may your self ebbe flow rise fall wax wane but your Lord is this day as he was yesterday it is your comfort that your salvation is not rolled upon wheels of your own making neither have ye to doe with a Christ of your own shaping God hath singled out a Mediator strong mighty if ye your burdens were as heavy as ten hills or hells he is able to bear you save you to the uttâ—rmost Your often seeking to him cannot make you a burden to him I know Christ compassionateth you maketh a moan for you in all your dumps under your downcastings but it is good for you that he hideth himself sometimes it is not niceness driness nor coldness of love that causeth Christ withdraw slip in under a curtain a vail that ye cannot see him but he knoweth ye could not bear with up-sailes a fair gaile a full moon a high spring-tide of his felt love alwayes a fair summer-day a summer-sun of a felt possâ—ssed embracing Lord Jâ—sus His kisses his visits to his dearest oâ—es are thin sowen He could not let out his rivers of love upon his own but thâ—se rivers would be in hazard to loose a young plant at the root he knoweth this of you Ye should therefore first Christ's kindness as to it 's sensible and full manifeâ—â—ations till ye and he be above sun moon that is the countrey where ye will be enlarged for that love which ye dow not now contain Cast the burden of your sweet babes upon Christ lighten your heart by laying your All upon him he will be their God I hope to sâ—e you up the mountain yet glad in the salvation of God Frame your self for Christ gloom not upon his cross I finde him so sweet that my love suppose I would charge it to remove from Christ it would not obey me His love hath stronger fingers then to let goe it's grips of us bairns who cannot goe but by such a hold as Christ. It is good that we want legs of our own since we may borrow from Christ it is our happiness that Christ is under an act of cautionry for heaven that Christ is booked in heaven as the principal debter for such poor bodies as we are I request you give the Laird your husband thanks for his care of me that he hath appeared in publike for a prisoner of Christ I pray write mercy peace blessings to him his Grace grace be with you for ever Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FER GUSHILL 145. Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you My longings desires for a sight of the new builded tabernacle of Christ again in Scotland that tabernacle that came down from heaven hath now taken some lâ—fe again when I see Christ making a mint to sow vengeance among his enemies I care not if this land be ripe for such a great wonderfull mercy but I know he must
doe when ever it is done without hire I finde the grief of my silence my fâ—ar to be holden at the door of Christ's house swelling upon me the truth is were it not that I am dâted now then with pieces of Christ's sweet love comforts I fear I should have made an ill browst of this honourable cross that I know such a soft sillyminded body as I am is not worthy of For I have little in me but softness superlative excessive apprehensions of fear sadness sorrow often God's terrors doe surround me because Christ looketh not so favourably upon me as a poor witness would have him And I wonder how I have past a year a quarter's imprisonment without shaming my sweet Lord to whom I desire to be faithfull I think I shall die but even minting aiming to serve honour my Lord Jesus Few know how toom empty I am at home but it is a part of marriage-Marriage-love husband love that my Lord Jesus goeth not to the streets with his chiding against me It is but stoln concealed anger that I finde feel his glooms to me are kept under roof that he will not have mine enemies hearing what is betwixt me Christ And beleeve me I say the truth in Christ the onely gall and wormwood in my cup that which hath filled me with fear hath been lest my sins that sun moon the Lord's children were never witness to should have moved my Lord to strike me with dumb sabbaths Lord pardon my soft weak jealousies if I be here in an error My very dear Brother I would have looked for more large more particular letters from you for my comfort in this for your words before have strengthned me I pray you mend this be thankfull painâ—ull while ye have a piece or corner of the Lord's vineyard to dress O would to God I could have leave to follow you to break the clods but I wish I could command my soul silence wait upon the Lord. I am sure while Christ lives I am well enough friend-stead I hope he will extend his Kindness power for me but God be thanked it is not worse with me then a cross for Christ his truth I know he might have pitched upon many more choise worthy witnesses if he had pleased â—ut I seek no more be what timber I will suppose I were made of a piece of hell then that my Lord in his infinite art hew glory to his name enlargement to Christ's Kingdom out of me Câ— that I could attain to this to desire that my part of Christ might be laid in pledge for the heightning of Christ's throne in Britain Let my Lord redeem the pledge or if he please let it sink drown unredeemed But what can I adde to him Or what way can a smothered and born-down prisoner set out Christ in open market as a lovely desireable Lord to many souls I know he sieth to his own glory better then my ebbe thoughts can dream of that the vvheels paces of this poor distempered Kirk are in his hands that things shall roll as Christ will have them Onely Lord tryst the matter so as Christ may be made a housholder Lord again in Scotland and wet faces for his departure may be dried at his sweet much desired welcome-home I see in all our trials our Lord will not mix our wares his grace over head through other but he will have each man to know his own that the like of me maâ— say in my sufferings This is Christ's grace this is but my course stuff this is free grace this is but nature and reason We know what our legs would play us if they should carry us through all our waters and the least thing our Lord can have of us is to know we are grace's debters or grace's dyvours that nature is of a base house blood grace is better born ofâ— in blood to Christ of a better house Oh that I were free of that Idol that they call my self that Christ were for myself my self a decourted cipher a denied forsworn thing But that proud thing my self will not play except it ride up side for side with Christ or rather have place before him O my self another devil as evil as the prince of devils if thou could give Christ the way take thine own room which is to sit as low as nothing or corruption O but we have much need to be ransomed redeemed by Christ from that master-tyrant that cruel lawless Lord our self Nay when I am seeking Christ out of my self I have the third part of a squint eye upon that vain vain thing my self my self something of mine own But I must hold here I desire you to contribute your help to see if I can be restored to my wasted lost flock I see not how it can be except the Lords would procure me a liberty to preach they have reason 1. Because the opposers my adversaries have practised their new Canons upon me whereof one is That no deprived Minister preach under the pain of excommunication 2. Because my opposing of these Canons was a special thing that incensed Sidserf against me 3. Because I was indicially accused for my book against the Arminians commanded by the Chancellour to acknowledge I had done a fault in writing against Dr Iackson a wicked Arminian Pray for a room in the house to me Grace grace be as it is your portion Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr 146. Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long for the time when I shall see the beauty of the Lord in his house would be as glad of it as of any sight on earth to see the halt the blinde the lame come back to Zion with supplications Ier. 31 8 9. going weeping seeking the Lord asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward Ier. 50. 5 6. to see the woman travelling in birth delivered of the man childe of a blessed Reformation If this land were humbled I would look that our skie should clear our day dawn again ye should then bless Christ who is content to save your travel to give himself to you in pure ordinances on this side of the sea I know the mercy of Christ is engaged by promise to Scotland notwithstanding he bring wrath as I fear he shall upon this land I am waiting on for enlargement half content that my faith bow if Christ while he bow it keep it unbroken for who goeth through a fire without a mark or a scald I see the Lord making use of this fire to scour his vessels from their rust Oh that my will were silent as a childe weaned from the breasts Psal.
130. But alas who hath a heart that will give Christ the last word in flyting will hear not speak again Oh contestations quarrelous replies as a soon sadled spirit I doe well to be angry even to the death Ion. 4 9. Smell of the stink of strong corruption O blessed soul that could sacrifice his will goe to heaven having lost his will made resignation of it to Christ I would seek no more but that Christ were absolute King over my will that my will were a sufferer in all crosses without meeting Christ with such a word why is it thus I wish still that my love had but leave to stand beside beautifull Jesus to get the mercy of looking to him burning for him suppose possession of him were suspended fristed till my Lord fold together the leaves two sides of the little shepherds tents of clay Oh what pain is in longing for Christ under an over-clouded and eclipsed assurance What is harder then to burn and dwine with longings and deaths of love then to have blanks uninked paper for assurance of Christ in real fruition or possession O how sweet were one line or half a letter of a written assurance under Christ's own hand But this is our exercise daily that guiltiness shall overmist and darken assurance It is a miracle to beleeve but for a sinner to beleeve is two miracles But O what obligations of love are we under to Christ who beareth with our wilde apprehensions in suffering them to nick-name sweet Jesus to put a lye upon his good name If he had not been God and if long-suffering in Christ were not like Christ himself we should long agoe have broken Christ's mercies in two pieces put an iron bar upon our own salvation that mercy should not have been able to break or overleap but long-suffering in God is God himself that is ouâ— salvation the stability of our heaven is in God He knew who said Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. For our hope the bottom pillars of it is Christ-God sinners are anchor-fast made stable in God So that if God doe not change which is impossible then my hope shall not fluctuat O sweet stability of suâ—e-bottomed salvation Who could win heaven if this were not who could be saved if God were not God if he were not such a God as he is O God be thanked that our Salvation is coasted landed shored upon Christ who is master of winds storms what sea-winds can blow the coast or the land out of it's place Bulwarks are often casten down but coasts are not removed but suppose that were or might be yet God cannot reel nor remove Oh that we goe from this strong unmoveable Lord that we loose our selves if it were in our power from him Alas our green young love hath not taken with Christ as being unacquainted with him He is such a wide broad deep high surpassing sweetness that our love is too little for him But O if our love little as it is could take baâ—d with his great huge sweetness and transcendent excellency O thrice blessed eternally blessed are they who are out of themselves above themselves that they may be in love united to him I am often rolling up down the thoughts of my faint sick desires of expressing Christ's glory before his people but I see not through the throng of impediments cannot finde eyes to look higher and so I put many things in Christ's way to hinder him that I know he would but laugh at with one stride set his foot over them all I know not if my Lord will bring me to his sanctuary or not but I know he hath the placing of me either within or without the house that nothing will be done without him But I am often thinking saying within my self that my dayes flee away and I see no good neither yet Christ's work thriving and it is like the grave shall prevent the answer of my desires of saving souls as I would But alas I cannot make right work of his wayes I neither spell nor read my Lord's providence aright My thoughts goe a way that I fear they meet not God for it is like God will not come the way of my thoughts I cannot be taught to crucifie to him my wisdom desires to make him King over my thoughts for I would have a Princedom over my thoughts would boldly blindly prescribe to God guide my self in a way of my own making But I hold my peace here let him doe his will Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweetest Lord and Master S. R. To CARSLUTH 147 Much honoured Sir I Long to hear how your soul prospereth I earnestly desire you to try how matters stand between your soul the Lord think it no easy matter to take heaven by violence Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a night dream there is no scarcity of faith now such as it is for ye shall not now light upon the man who will not say he hath faith in Christ But alas dreams make no man's rights Worthy Sir I beseech you in the Lord give your soul no rest till ye have reall assurance Christ's rights confirmed sealed to your soul The common faith countrey-holiness week-day's zeal that is among people will never bring men to heaven Take pains for your salvation for in that day when ye shall see many mens labours conquests idol-riches lying in ashes when the earth all the works thereof shall be burnt with fire O how dear a price would your soul give for God's favour in Christ It is a blessed thing to seek Christ with up-sun to read over your papers soul-accounts with fair day-light It will not be time to cry for a lamp when the Bridegroom is entred into his chamber the door shut Fy fy upon blinded base souls who are committing whoredom with this idol-clay hunting a poor wretched hungry heaven a hungry break-fast a day's meat from this hungry world with the forfeiting of God's favour the drinking over their heaven over the board as men use to speak for the laughter sports of this short forenoon All that is under this vault of heaven betwixt us death in this side of sun moon are but toyes night-visions head-fancies poor shadows watery froth godless vanities at their best black hearts salt sowre miseries sugared over confected with an hour's laughter or two the conceit of riches honour vain vain Court lawless pleasures Sir if ye look both to the laughing side the weeping side of this world if ye look not onely upon the skin and colour of things but in to their inwards the heart of their
excellency ye shall see that one look of Christ's sweet lovely eye one kiss of his fairest face is worth ten thousand worlds of such rotten stuff as the foolish sons of men set their heart upon Oh Sir turn turn your heart to the other side of things get it once free of these entanglements to consider Eternity Death the clay-bed the Grave awsom Judgement everlasting burning quick in Hell where Death would give as great a price if there were a Market where Death might be bought sold as all the world Consider heaven glory But alas why speak I of considering these things which have not entered into the heart of man to consider Look into these depths without a bottom of loveliness sweetness beauty excellency glory goodness grace mercy that are in Christ ye shall then cry down the whole world all the glory of it even when it is come to the summer-bloom ye shall cry up with Christ up with Christ's father up with eternity of glory Sir there is a great deal of less sand in your glasâ— then when I saw you your afternoon is nearer even-tide now then it was As a flood carried back to the sea so doth the Lord's swiâ—t post Time carry you your life with wings to the grave Ye eat drink but Time standeth not still ye laugh but your day fleeth away yâ— sleep but your hours are reckoned put by hand O how soon will Time shut you out of the poor cold hungry Innes of this life then what will yesterday's short-born pleasures doe to you but be as a snow-ball melted away many years since or worse for the memorie of these pleasures useth to fill the soul witâ— bitternesse Time experience will prove thiâ— to be true dying men if they could speak would make this good Lay no more on the creatures then they are able to carry Lay your soul and your weights upon God Make him your onely onely best beloved Your errand to this life is to make sure an eternity of glory to your soul to match your soul with Christ your love if it were more then all the love of Angels in one is Christ's due Other things worthy in themselves in respect of Christ are not worth a windlestraw or a drink of cold water I doubt not but in death ye will see all things more distinctly and that then the world shall bear no more bulke then it is worth that then it shall couche be contracted into nothing ye shall see Christ longer higher broader deeper then ever he was O blessed conquest to lose all things to gain Christ I know not what ye have if ye want Christ Alas how poor is your gain if the earth were all yours in fâ—ee heritage holding it of no man of clay if Christ be not yours O seek all midses lay all oars in the water put forth all your power bend all your endeavours to put away part with all things that ye may gain enjoy Christ try search his word striâ—e to goe a step above beyond ordinary professours resolve to sweat more run faster then they doe for Salvation mens mid-way cold and wise courses in godliness and their neighbour-liâ—e cold wise pace to heaven will cause many a man want his lodging at night liâ— in the fields I recommend Christ his love to your seeking yourself to the tender mercy rich grace of our Lord. Remember my love in Christ to your wife I desire her to learn to make her soul's anchor fast upon Christ himself Few are saved Let hâ—r consider what joâ— the smiles of God in Christ will be what the love-kisses of sweet sweet Jesus a welcome home to the new Ierusalem from Christ's own mouth will be to her soul when Christ shall fold together the clay tent of her body and lay it by his hand for a time till the fair morning of the generall resurrection I avouch before God man and Angel that I have not seen nor can imagine a lover to be comparable to lovely Jesus I would not exchange or niffer him with ten heavens If heaven could be without him what could we doe there Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul 's eternal well-wisher S. R. To CASSINCARRIE 148. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you I have been too long in writing to you I am confident ye have learned to prize Christ his love favour more then ordinary professours who scarce see Christ with half an eye because their sight is taken up with eying liking the beauty of this over-guileded world that promiseth fair to all it's lovers but in the push of a trial when need is can give nothing but a fair beguile I know ye are not ignorant that men come not to this world as some doe to a market to see and be seen or as some come to behold a May-game and onely to behold and to goe home again Ye came hither to treat with God to tryst with him in his Christ for salvation to your soul to seek reconcilation with an angry and wrathful God in a covenant of peace made to you in Christ this is more then an ordinary sport or the play that the greatest part of the world give their heart unto And therefore Worthy Sir I pray you by the salvation of your soul and by the mercy of God your compearence before Christ doe this in sad earnest let not salvation be your by-work or your holy-day's task onely or a work by the way For men think that this may be done in three dayes space on a feather-bed when death they are fallen in hands together and that with a word or two they shall make their soul-matters right Alas this is to â—it loose and unsure in the matters of our salvation Nay the seeking of this world the glory of it is but an odde by-errand that we may slip sobeing we make salvation sure Oh when will men learn to be that heavenly wise as to divorce from free their soul of all Idol-lovers and make Christ the onely onely One and trim make ready their lamps while they have time and day How soon will this house skail and the Innes where the poor soul lodgeth fall to the earth How soon will some few years pass away then when the day is ended this life's lease expired what have men of world's glory but dreams thoughts O how blessed a thing is it to labour for Christ to make him sure Know and try in time your holding of him and the rights and charters of heaven and upon what terms ye have Christ and the Gospel and what Christ is worth in your estimation and how lightly ye esteem of other things and how dearly of Christ I am sure if ye see him in his beauty and
the first I shall stand up as witness against you if ye doe not amend your wayes and your doings and turn to the Lord with all your heart I beseech you also my beloved in the Lord my joy my Crown offend not at the sufferings of me the prisoner of Jesus Christ I am filled with joy and with the comforts of God Upon my salvation I know am perswaded it is for God's Truth and the Honour of my King Royall Prince Jesus I now suffer and howbeit this town be my prison yet Christ hath made it my palace a garden of pleasures a field orchard of delights I know likewise albeit I be in bonds that yet the word of God is not in bonds my spirit also is in free ward Sweet svveet have his comforts been to my soul my pen tongue and heart have not vvords to express the kindness love mercy of my vvelbeloved to me in this house of my pilgrimage I charge you to fear love Christ to seek a house not made vvith hands but your father's house above This laughing and white skinned world beguileth you if ye seek it more then God it shall play you a slip to the endless sorrow of your heart Alas I could not make many of you fall in love with Christ howbeit I endeavoured to speak much good of him to commend him to you which as it was your sin so it is my sorrow yet once again suffer me to exhort beseech obtest you in the Lord to think of his love to be delighted with him who is altogether lovely I give you the word of a King ye shall not repent it ye are in my prayers night day I cannot forget you I doe not eat I doe not drink but I pray for you all I entreat you all every one of you to pray for me Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 23. 1636. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS 150 MISTRESS I Beseech you in the Lord Jesus make every day more more of Christ try your growth in the grace of God what new ground ye win daily on corruption for travellers are day by day either advancing further on nearer home or else they goe not right about to compass their journey I think still the better better of Christ Alas I know not where to set him I would so fain have him high I cannot set heavens above heavens till I were tired with numbering set him upon the highest step story of the highest of them all But I wish I could make him great through the world suppose my loss pain shame were set under the soles of his feet that he might stand upon me I request you faint not because this world ye are at yea nay because this is not a home that laugheth upon you The wise Lord who knoweth you will have it so because he casteth a net for your love to catch it gather it in to himself therefore bear patiently the loss of children and burdens and other discontentments either within or without the house Your Lord in them is seeking you and seek ye him Let none be your love choice the flower of your delights but your Lord Jesus Set not your heart upon the world since God hath not made it your portion for it will not fall you to get two portions and to laugh twice and to be happy twice and to have an upper-heaven and an under-heaven too Christ our Lord his saints were not so therefore let goe your grip of this life of the good things of it I hope your heaven groweth not hereaway Learn daily both to possess miss Christ in his secret bridegroom-smiles He must goe come because his infinite wisdom thinketh it best for you we will be together one day We shall not need to borrow light from sun moon or candle There shall be no complaints on eiher side in heaven There shall be none there but He we the bridegroom the bride Devils temptations trials desertions losses sad hearts pain death shall all be put out of play the Devil must give up his office of Tempting O blessed is the soul whose hope hath a face looking straight out to that day It is not our part to make a treasure here Any thing under the covering of heaven we can build upon is but ill ground a sandy foundation Every good thing except God wanteth a bottom cannot stand it's alone how then can it bear the weight of us Let us not lay a load upon a windlestraw there shall nothing finde my weight or found my happiness but God I know all created power should sink under me if I should lean down upon it therfore it is better to rest on God then sink or fall we weak souls must have a bottom being-place for we cannot stand our alone let us then be wise in our choice chuse waile our own blessedness which is to trust in the Lord Each one of us hath a whore idol besides our husbend Christ But it is our folly to divide our narrow little love It will not serve two best then hold it whole together give it to Christ for then we get double interest for our love when we lend it to lay it out upon Christ we are sure besides that the stock cannot perish Now I can say no more remember me I have God's right to that people howbeit by the violence of men stronger then I I am banished from you chased away The Lord give you mercy in the day of Christ It may be God clear my sky again howbeit there is small appearance of my deliverance But let him doe with me what seemeth good in his own eyes I am his clay let my porter frame fashion me as he pleaseth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To SIBILLA Mc ADAM 151 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I can bear witness in my bonds that Christ is still the longer the better no worse yea inconceivably better then he is or can be called I think it half an heaven to have my fill of the smâ—ll of his sweet breath to sleep in the arms of Christ my Lord with his left hand under my head his right hand embracing me There is no great reckoning to be made of the withering of my flower in comparison of the foul manifest wrongs done to Christ Nay let never the dew of God lie upon my branches again let the bloom fall from my joy and let it wither let the Almighty blow out my candle sobeing the Lord might be great among Jews Gentiles and his oppressed church delivered Let Christ fare well suppose I should eat ashes I know he must be sweet himself when his cross is so sweet And it is
the part of us all if we marrie Himself to marrie the crosses losses reproaches also that follow him for mercy followeth Christ's cross His prison for beauty is made of marble ivory his chains that are laid on his prisoners are golden chains the fighes of the prisoners of hope are perfumes with comforts the like whereof cannot be bred of found in this side of sun moon Follow on after his love â—ire not of Christ but come in and see his beauty excellency feed your soul upon Christ's sweetness This world is not yours neither would I have your heaven made of such mettall as mire clay Ye have the choice waile of all lovers in heaven or out of heaven when ye have Christ the onely delight of God his father Climb up the mountain with joy faint not for time will cut off the men who pursue Christ's followers Our best things here have a worm in them Our joyes besides God in the inner half are but woes sorrowes Christ Christ is that which our love and desires can sleep sweetly rest safely upon Now the very God of peace establish you in Christ Help a prisoner with your prayers and entreat that our Lord would be pleased to visite me with a fight of his beauty in his house as he hath sometimes done Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 152 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I have been too long I confess in writing to you My sute now to you in paper since I have no access to speak to you as formerly is that ye would lay the foundation sure in your youth When ye begin to seek Christ try I pray you upon what terms ye covenant to follow him and lay your accounts what it may cost you that summer nor winter nor well nor woe may not cause you change your master Christ Keep fair to him be honest and faithfull that he finde not a crack in you Surely ye are now in the throng of temptations When youth is come to it's fairest bloom then the Devil the lusts of a deceiving world sin are upon horse-back and follow with up sails If this were not Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified holy youth Timothy a faithfull preacher of the Gospel flee the lusts of youth Give Christ your virgin-love ye cannot put your love heart in a better hand O if ye knew him saw his beauty Your love your liking your heart your desires would close with him cleave to him Love by nature when it seeth cannot but cast out it 's spirit and strength upon amiable objects good things things love-worthy and what fairer thing then Christ O fair sun and fair moon and fair stars and fair flowers and fair roses and fair lilies and fair creatures but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus Alas I wronged him in making the comparison this way O black sun moon but O fair Lord Jesus O black flowers black lilies roses but O fair fair ever fair Lord Jesus O all fair things black deformed without beauty when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus O black heaven but O fair Christ O black Angels but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus I would seek no more to make me happy for evermore but a through clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord Let my eyes enjoy his fairness store him for ever in the face I have all that can be wished Get Christ rather then gold or silver seek Christ howbeit ye should lose all things for him They take their marks by the moon look asquint in looking to fair Christ who resolve for the world their ease for their honour court credit or for fear of losses a sore skin that they will turn their back upon Christ his truth Alas how many blinde eyes squint-lookers look this day in Scotland upon Christ's beauty they see a spot in Christ's fair face Alas they are not worthy of Christ who look this way upon him see no beauty in him why they should desire him God send me my fill of his beauty if it be possible that my soul can be full of his beauty here But much of Christ's beauty needeth not abate the eager appetite of a soul sick of love for himself to see him in the other world where he is seen as he is I am glad with all my heart that ye have given your greenest morning age to this Lord Jesus Hold on weary not faint not resolve upon suffering for Christ but fear not ten dayes tribulation for Christ's sowre cross is sugared with comforts hath a taste of Christ himself I esteem it my glory my joy my crown I bless him for this honour to be yoked with Christ married with him in suffering who therefore was born therefore came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth Take pains above all things for salvation for without running fighting sweating wrestling heaven is not taken O happy soul that crosseth nature's stomack delighteth to gain that fair garland crown of glory What a feckless loss is it for you to goe through this wilderness never taste of sin's sugared pleasures What poorer is a soul to want pride lust love of the world the vanities of this vain worthless world Nature hath no cause to weep at the want of such toyes as these Esteem it your gain to be an heir of glory O but that is an eye-look to a fair rent The very hope of heaven under troubles is like wind sails to the soul like wings when the feet come out of the share O for what stay we here Up up after our Lord Jesus this is not our rest nor our dwelling What have we to doe in this prison except onely to take meat house-room in it for a time Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's welwisher Christ prisoner S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON At Kenmure 153 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have been long in answering your letter which came in good time to me It is my aim hearty desire that my furnace which is of the Lord 's kindling may sparkle fire upon standers by to the warming of their hearts with God's love The very dust that falleth from Christ's feet his old ragged clothes his knotty black cross is sweeter to me then Kings golden crowns their time-eaten pleasures I should be a liar false witness if I should not give my Lord Jesus a fair testimonial with my whole soul my word I know will not heighten him he needeth not such props under his feet to raise his glory high But Oh that I could raise him the height of heaven the breadth length often heavens in the
Lord Jesus market-sweet lovely desireable fair to all the world both to Jew and Gentil O let my part of heaven goe for it sobeing he would take my tongue to be his instrument to set out Christ in his whole braveries of love vertue grace sweetness matchless glory to the eyes hearts of Jews Gentiles But who is sufficient for these things O for the help of Angels tongues to make Christ eye-sweet and amiable to many thousands O how little doeth this world see of him how far are they from the love of him seeing there is so much loveliness beauty and sweetness in Christ that no created eye did ever yet see I would that all men knew his glory and that I could put many in at the bridegroom's chamber door to see his beauty to be partakers of his high and deep and broad and boundless love O let all the world come nigh and see Christ and they shall then see more then I can say of him O if I had had a pledge or pawne to lay down for a sea-full of his love that I could come by somuch of Christ as would satisfie griening and longing for him or rather increase it till I were in full possession I know we shall meet therein I rejoyce Sir stand fast in the truth of Christ that ye have received Yeeld not to winds but ride out let Christ be your anchor the onely He whom ye shall look to see in peace Pray for me his prisoner that the Lord would send me among you to feed his people Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 157 Worthy Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you The Lord hath brought me safe to this strange town Blessed be his holy name I finde his cross easie and light and I hope he shall be with his poor sold Joseph who is separated from his brethren His comforts have abounded towards me as if Christ thought shame if I may speak so to be in the common of such a poor man as I am and would not have me lose any thing in his errands My enemies have beside their intention made me more blessed and have put me in a sweeter possession of Christ then ever I had before Onely the memory of the fair dayes I had with my welbeloved amongst the flock intrusted to me keepeth me low and sowreth my unseen joy But it must be so and he is wise who tutoureth me this way For that which my brethren have and I want and others of this world have I am content my faith will frist God my happiness No Son offendeth that his father giveth him not hire twice a year for he is to abide in the house when the inheritance is to be divided It is better God's children live upon hope then upon hire Thus remembring my love to your worthy and kinde wife I bless you and her and all yours in the Lord's name Aberd. Sept 20. 1637. Yours in his onâ—ly onely Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 158 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well honour be to God aswell as a râ—joycing prisoner of Christ can be hoping that one day He for whom I now suffer shall enlarge me put me above the threatnings of men I am sometimes sad heavy casten down at the memory of the fair dayes I had with Christ in Anwoth Kirk cudbright cet The remembrance of a feast encreaseth hunger in a hungry man but who knoweth but our Lord will yet cover a table in the wilderness to his hungry bairns build the old waste places in Scotland bring home Zion's captives I desire to see no more glorious sight till I see the Lamb on his throne then to see Mount Zion all green with grass the dew lying upon the tops of the grass the crown put upon Christ's head in Scotland again And I beleeve it shall be so that Christ shall mowe down his enemies fill the pits with their dead bodies I finde people here dry uncouth A man pointed at for suffering dare not be countenanced so that I am like to sit mine alone upon the ground But my Lord payeth me well home again for I have neither tongue nor pen nor heart to express the sweetness excellency of the love of Christ Christ's honey-combs drop hony sloods of consolation upon my soul My chains are gold Christ's cross iâ— all overguilded and perfumed His prison is the garden and orchard of my delights I would goe through burning quick to my lovely Christ I sleep in his arms all the night my head betwixt his breasts My welbeloved is altogether lovely This is all nothing to that which my soul hath felt Let no man for my cause scar at Christ's cross If my stipend place countrey credit had been an Earledom a Kingdom ten Kingdoms and a whole earth all were too little for the crown and scepter of my royall King Mine enemies mine enemies have made me blessed They ave sent me to the bridegroom's chamber Love is his banner over me I live a Kings life I want nothing but heaven and the possession of the crown my earnest is great Christ is no niggard to me Dear Brother be for the Lord Jesus and his heart-broken bride I need not I hope remember my distressed brother to your care Remember my love to your wife Let Christ want nothing of us His garments shall be rolled in the blood of the slain of Scotland Grace grace be with you pray for Christ's prisoner Aberd. Sept. 21. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 159 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am by God's mercy come now to Aberden the place of my confinement setled in an honest man's house I finde the town's-men cold generall dry in their kindness yet I finde a lodging in the heart of many strangers My challenges are revived again I finde old sores bleeding of new so dangerous painfull is an undercotted conscience yet I have an eye to the blood that is physick for such sores But verily I see Christianity is conceived to be more easie lighter then it is so that I sometimes think I never knew any thing but the letters of that name for our nature contenteth it self with little in godliness Our Lord Lord seemeth to us ten Lord Lords little holiness in our ballance is much because it is our own holâ—ness we love to lay small burdens upon our soft natures to make a fair courtway to heaven And I know it were necessary to take more pains then we doe not to make heaven a city more easily taken then God hath made it I perswade my self many runners shall come short get a disappointment Oh how easie is it to deceive our selves
to sleep wish that heaven may fall down in our laps Yet for all my Lord's glooms I finde him sweet gracious loving kinde I want both pen words to set forth the fairness beauty sweetness of Christ's love the honour of this cross of Christ which is glorious to me though the world thinketh shame thereof I verily think that the cross of Christ would blush think shame of these thin-skined worldlings who are so married to their credit that they are ashamed of the sufferings of Christ. O the honour to be scourged stoned with Christ to goe through a furious-faced death to life eternall But men would have Lawborrows against Christ's cross Now My dear Brother forget not the prisoner of Christ for I see very few here who kindely fear God Grace be with you Let my love in Christ hearty affection be remembred to your kinde wife to your Brother Iohn to all friends The Lord Jesus be with your Spirit Abed Sept. 20. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 160. Much Honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well Christ triumpheth in me blessed be his name I have all things I burden no man I see this earth and the fullness thereof is my father's sweet sweet is the cross of my Lord The blessing of God upon the cross of my Lord Jesus My enemies have contributed beside their designe to make me blessed This is my palace not my prison especially when my Lord shineth smileth upon his poor afflicted sold Joseph who is separated from his brethen But often he hideth himself there is a day of law court of challenges within me I know not if fenced in God's name but Oh my neglects Oh my unseen guiltiness I imagined that a sufferer for Christ kept The keys of Christ's treasure might take out his womb-full of comforts when he pleased but I see a sufferer witness will be holden at the door aswell as another poor sinner be glad to eat with the bairns to take the by-board This cross hath let me see that heaven is not at the next door that it is a castle not soon taken I see also it is neither pain nor art to play the hyprocrite We have all learned to sell our selves for double price to make the people who call ten twenty twenty an hundred esteem us half-gods or men fallen out of the clouds But Oh sincerity sincâ—rity if I knew what sincerity meaneth Sir lay the foundation thus ye shall not soon shrink nor be shaken Make tight work at the bottom your ship shall ride against all storms if with all your anchor be fastned upon good ground I mean with in the vail verily I think this is All to gain Christ All other things are shadows dreams fansies nothing Sir remember my love to your mother I pray for mercy grace to her I wish her on-going toward heaven As I promised to write so shew her I want nothing in my Lord's service Christ will not be in such a poor man's common as mine Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 22. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN GORDON 161 Worthy dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you I have been too long in writing to you but multitude of letters taketh much time from me I bless his great name whom I serve in the spirit if it came to voting amongst Angels and men how excellent and sweet Christ is even in his reproaches and in his cross I cannot but vote with the first that all that is in him both cross crown kisses glooms embracements and frownings and strokes are sweet and glorious God send me no more happiness in heaven or out of heaven but Christ For I finde this world when I have looked upon it on both sides within without when I have seen even the laughing and lovely-like side of it to be but a fool's idol a clay prison Lord let it not be the nest that my hope buildeth in I have now cause to judge my part of this earth not worth a blast of smoke or a mouth-full of brown bread I wish my Hope may take a running-leap skip over Time's pleasures Sin 's plaistering gold-â—oâ—e this vain earth rest upon my Lord. O how great is our night-darkness in this wilderness To have any conceit at all of this world is as a man would close his handfull of water and holding his hand in the river say all the water of the flood is his as if it were indeed all within the compass of his hand Who would not laugh at the thoughts of such a crack-brain Verily they have but an handfull of water are but like a childe clasping his two hands about a night-shadow who idolize any created hope but God I now ligh lie put the price of a dream or fable or black nothing upon all things but upon God that desireable love-worthy one my Lord Jesus Let all the world be nothing for nothing was their seed mother let God be all things My very dear Brother know ye are as near heaven as ye are far from your self far from the love of a bewitching whorish world For this World in it's gain and glory is but the great and notable common whore that all the sons of men have been in fancy lust withall these 5000 years the children that they have begotten with this uncouth lustfull lover are but vanity dreams golden imaginations night-thoughts For there is no good ground here under the covering of heaven for men poor wearied souls to set down their foot upon O he who is called God that one whom they term Iesus Christ is worth the having indeed even ifâ— had given away all without my eye-holes my soul and my self for sweet Jesus my Lord O let the claim be cancelled that the creatures have to me except that claim my Lord Iesus hath to me Oh that he would claim poor me my silly light worthless soul O that he would pursue his claim to the utmost point not want me For it is my pain remediless sorrow to want him I see nothing in this life but sinks mires dreams beguiling ditches ill ground for us to build upon I am fully perswaded of Christs victory in Scotland but I fear this land be not yet ripe and white for mercy Yet I dare be halfer upon my salvation with the losses of the church of Scotland that her foes afternoon shall sing dole sorrow for evermore and that her joy shall once again be cried up her skie shall clear But vengeance burning shall be to her adversaries the sinners of this land Oh that we could be awakened to prayers humiliation Then should our sun shine like seven suns in the heaven then
should the temple of Christ be builded upon the mountains tops the land from coast to coast should be filled with the glory of the Lord. Brother your day-task is wearing short your hour-glass of this span-length and hand-breadth of life will quickly pass therefore take order course with matters betwixt you and Christ before it come to open pleading there are no quarters to be had of Christ in open judgement I know ye see your threed wearing short that there are not many inches to the threed's end and therefore lose not time Remember me his prisoner that it would please the Lord to bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr HUGH Mc KAILL 162 Reverend dear Brother I thank you for your letter I cannot but shew you that as I never expected any thing from Christ but much good kindness so he hath made me to finde it in the house of my pilgrimage And beleeve me Brother I give it to you under mine own hand-writ that who so looketh to the white side of Christ's cross and can take it up handsomly with faith and courage shall finde it such a burden as 〈◊〉 are to a ship or wings to a bird I finde my Lord hath overguilded that black tree hath perfumed it oiled it with joy consolation Like a fool once I would chide plead with Christ slander him to others of unkindness but I trust in God not to call his glooms unkinde again for he hath taken from me my sackcloth I verily cannot tell you what a poor sold Ioseph prisoner with whom my mother's children were angry doeth now think of kinde Christ I will chide no more providing he will quite me all by-gones for I am poor I am taught in this ill weather to goe on the lee-side of Christ to put him in between me and the storm I thank God I walk on the sunny side of the brae I write it that ye may speak in my behalf the praises of my Lord to others that my bonds may preach O if all Scotland knew the feasts love-blenks visites that the Prelats have sent me unto I will verily give my Lord Jesus a free discharge of all that I like a fool laid to his charge beg him pardon to the mends God grant that in my temptations I come not on his wrong side again and never again fall a raving against my Physician in my fever Brother plead with your mother while ye have time A pulpit would be a high feast to me but I dare not say one word against him who hath done it I am not out of the house as yet my sweet Master saith I shall have house-room at his own elbow albeit their synagogues will need force cast me out A letter were a work of charity to me Grace be with you Pray for me Aberd. Novemb. 22. 1636. Your Brother Christ's prisoner S. R. To JAMES MURRAY 163 Dear Brother I Received your letter I am in good health of body but far better in my soul. I finde my Lord no worse then his word I will be with him in trouble is made good to me now He heareth the sighing of the prisoner Brother I am comforted in my royal Prince and King This world knoweth not our life it is a mysterie to them We have the sunny side of the world and our Paradise is far above theirs yea our weeping above their laughing which is but like the crackling of thorns under a pot And therefore we have good cause to fight it out for the day of our Laureation is approaching I finde my prison the sweetest place that ev r I was in my Lord Jesus is kinde to me and hath taken the mask off his face and is content to quite me all by-gones I dare not complain of him And for my silence I lay it before Christ I hope it shall be a speaking silence He who knoweth what I would knoweth that my soul desireth no more but that King Jesus may be great in the North of Scotland in the South and in the East West through my sufferings for the freedom of my Lord's house and Kingdom If I could keep good quarters in time to come with Christ I would fear nothing But Oh! Oh! I complain of my wofull out-breakings I tremble at the remembrance of a new out-cast betwixt him and me and I have cause when I consider what sick sad dayes I have had for his absence who is now come I finde Christ dow not be long unkinde our Ioseph's bowels yern within him he cannot smother love long it must break out at length Praise praise with me Brother desire my acquaintance to help me I dare not conceal his love to my soul I wish you all a part of my feast that my Lord Jesus may be honoured I allow you not to hide Christ's bountie to me when ye meet with such as know Christ. Ye write nothing to me what are the cruel mercies of the Prelats towards me The ministers of this town as I hear intend that I shall be more strickly confined or else transported because they finde some people affect me Grace be with you Aberd. Nov. 21. 1637. Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 164 My very worthy friend GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless my Lord through Jesus Christ I finde his word good Isa â—8 â—0 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction And Psal. 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble I never expâ—cted other at Christ's hand but much good comfort I am not disappointed I finde my Lord's cross overguilded oiled with comforts My Lord hath now showen me the white side of his cross I would not exchange my weeping in prison with the fourteen Prelats laughter amidst their hungry 〈◊〉 lean joyes This world knoweth not the sweetness of Christ's love it is a mystery to them At my first coming here I found great heaviness especially because it had pleased the Prelats to adde this gentle cruelty to my former sufferings â—or it is gentle to them to inhibite the Ministers of the town to give me the liberty of a pulpit I said what adeth Christ at my service But I was a fool he hath chided himself friends with me If ye others of God's children shall praise his great name who maketh worthless men witnesses for him my silence sufferings shall preach more then my tongue could doe if his glory be seen in me I am satisfied for I want no kindness of Christ And Sir I dare not smother his liberality I write it to you that ye may praise desire your brother others to joyn with me in this work This land shall be made desolate our iniquities are full the Lord saith we shall drink
mean time the least intimation of Christ's love is sweet and the hope of marriage with the Bridegroom holdeth me in some joyfull on-waiting that when Christ's summer-birds shall sing upon the branches of the tree of life I shall be tuned by God himself to help them to sing the home-coming of our welbeloved his Bride to their house together When I think of this I think winters summers years dayes time doe me a pleasure that they shorten this untwisted weak threed of my life that they put sin miseries by hand that they shall carry me to my Bridegroom within a clap Dear Brother pray for me that it would please the Lord of the vineyard to give me house-room to preach his righteousness again to the great congregation Grace grace be with you Remember me to your wife Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CULROSS Rev. 7 14. These are they vvhich came out of great tribulation have vvashed their robes made them vvhite in the blood of the Lamb. 168 MADAM GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I greatly long to be refreshed with your letter I am now all honour glory to the King eternal immortal invisible in better terms with Christ then I was I like a fool summoned my husband Lord libelled unkindness against him but now I pass from that foolish pursuit I give over the plea he is God I am man I was loosing a fast stone digging at the ground-stone the love of my Lord to shake unsettle it but God be thanked it is fast all iâ— sure In my prison he hath showen me day-light he dought not hide his love any longer Christ was disguised masked I apprehended it was not he he hath said It is 〈…〉 be not afraid And now his love is better then wine Oh that all the virgins had part of the Bridegroom's love whereupon he maketh me to feed Help me to praise I charge you Madam help me to pay praises tell others the daughters of Jerusalem how kinde Christ is to a poor prisoner he hath payed me my hundred fold it is well told me one to the hundred I am nothing behinde with Christ Let not fools because of their lazie soft flesh raise a slander an ill report upon the cross of Christ it is sweeter then fair I see grace groweth best in winter This poor pâ—rsecuted Kirk this lilie amongst the thorns shall blossom and laugh upon the gardiner the husband-man's blessing shall light upon it Oh if I could be free of jealousies of Christ after this beleeve keep good quarters with my dearest husband for he hath been kinde to the stranger yet in all this fair hot summer-weather I am keeped from saying 〈◊〉 is good to be here with my silence with grief to see my mother wou ded her vail taken from her the fair Temple casten down my belly is pained my soul is heavy for the captivity of the daughter of my people because of the fury of the Lord his fierce indignation against Apostate Scotland I pray you Madam let me have that which is my prayer here that my sufferings may preach to the four quarters of this land and therefore tell others how open-handed Christ hath been to the prisoner and the oppressed stranger Why should I conceal it I know no other way how to glorifie Chriâ—t but to make an open proclamation of his love and of his his soft and sweet kisses to me in the furnace of his fidelity to such as suffer for him Give it me under your hand that ye will help me to pray praise but rather to praise rejoyce in the salvation of God Grace grace be with you Aberd. Dec. 30. 1636. Yours in his dearest onely onely Lord Iesus S. R To the Lady CARDONNESS 169 My dearly beloved longed for in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul Prospereth how the Kingdom of Christ thriveth in you I exhort you beseech you in the bowels of Christ faint not weary not There is a great necessity of heaven ye must needs have it All other things as houses lands children husband friends countrey credit health wealth honour may be wanted but Heaven is your one thing necessary the good part that shall not be taken from you See that ye buy the field where the pearl is sell all make a purchase of salvation think it not easie for it is a steep ascent to eternal glory Many are lying dead by the way that are slain with security I have now been led by my Lord Jesus to such a nick in Christianity as I think little of former things Oh what I want I want so many things that I am almost asking if I had any thing at all Every man thinketh he is rich enough in grace till he take out his purse tell his money then he findeth his pack but poor light in the day of a heavy trial I found I had not to bear my expences and should have fainted if want penury had not chased me to the store-house of all I beseech you make couscience of your wayes deal kindly with conscience with your Tenants to fill a breach or a hole make not a greater breach in the conscience I wish plenty of love to your soul let the world be the portion of bastards make it not yours after the last trumpet is blowen the world all its glory will be like an old house that is burnt to ashes like an old fallen castle without a roof Fy fy upon us fools who think our selves debters to the world My Lord hath brought me to this that I would not give a drink of cold water for this world's kindness I wonder that men long after love or care for these feathers it is almost an uncouth world to me to think that men are so mad as to block with dead earth to give cut conscience to get in clay again is a strange bargain I have written my minde at length to your husband write to me again his case I cannot forget him in my prayers I am looking Christ hath some claim to him My counsel is that ye bear with him when passion overtaketh him A soft answer putteth away wrath answer him in what he speaketh apply your self in the fear of God to him then ye will remove a pound weight of your heavy cross that way so it shall become light When Christ hideth himself wait on make diâ— till he return it is not time then to be carelesly patient I love it to be grieved when he hideth his smiles yet beleeve his love in a patient on-waiting and beleeving in the dark Ye must learn to swim hold up your head above the water even when the sense of his presence
to be Christ's ransomed sinner sick one His relation to me is that I am sick He is the physician of whom I stand in need Alas how often play I fast loose with Christ He bindeth I loose he buildeth I cast down he tâ—immeth up a salvation for me I mar it I cast out with Christ he agreeth with me again twenty times a day I forfeit my Kingdom heritage I lose what I had but Christ is at my back and following on to stoop take up that falleth from me Were I in heaven had the crown on my head if Freewill were my tutour I should lose heaven seeing I lose my self what wonder I should let goe lose Jesus my Lord O well to me for evermore that I have cracked my credit with Christ cannot by law at all borrow from him upon my feckless worthless bond faith for my faith reputation with Christ is that I am a creature that God will not put any trust into I was am bewildered with temptations wanted a guide to heaven O what have I to say of that excellent surpassing supereminent thing they call The Grace of God the way of free redemption in Christ And when poor poor I dead in law was sold fettered imprisoned in Justice's closest ward which is hell damnation when I a wretched one lighted upon noble Iesus eternally kinde Iesus tender hearted Iesus nay when he lighted upon me first knew me I found that he scorned to take a price or any thing like hire of Angels or Seraphims or any of his creatures and therefore I would praise him for this that the whole armie of the redeemed ones sit rent-free in heaven Our holding is better then Blench We are all Free-holders seeing our eternall feuduty is but thanks Oh woefull me that I have but spilt thanks broken lame miscarried praises to give him so my silver is not good current with Christ were it not that free merites have stamped it washen it me both And for my silence I see somewhat better through it now If my high lofty one my princely Royall Master say Hold hold thy peace I lay bonds on thee thou speak none I would fain be content let my fire be smothered under ashes without light or flame I cannot help it I take laws from my Lord but I give none As for your journey to F. ye doe well to follow it The camp in Christ's ordinary bed A carried bed is kindly to the Beloved down in this lower house It may be who knoweth but our Lord hath some Centurions ye are sent to Seeing your angry mother denieth you lodging house-room with her Christ's call to unknown faces must be your second wind seeing ye cannot have a first O that our Lord would water again with a new visite this piece withered dry hill of our widow-mount Zion my Dear Brother I will think it comfort if ye speak my name to our welbeloved wherever ye are I am mindefull of you O that the Lord would yet make the light of the moon in Scotland like the light of the sun and the light of the sun seven fold brighter For my self as yet I have received no answer whither to goe I wait on O that Jesus had my love Let matters frame as they list I have some more to doe with Christ yet I would fain we were nearer Now the great shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace establish confirm you till the day of his coming Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yours in his lovely sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARLETON 173 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be to you My soul longeth once again to be amongst you to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in his house But I know not if he in whose hands are all our waves seeth it expedient for his glory I ow my Lord I know submission of spirit suppose he should turn me into a stone or pillar oâ— salt Oh that I were He in whom my Lord could be glorified suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to him before men and Angels suppose my want of his presence and separation from Christ were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world What am I to him How little am I though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning lighâ— to such a high to such a lofty to such a never-enough admired glorious Lord My trials are heavy bâ—cause of my sad sabbaths but I know they are less then my high provocations I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer and I the loser that he may be raised and hightned and I cryed down and my worth made dust before his glory Oh that Scotland all with one shout would cry up Christ and that his name were high in this land I finde the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweâ—tness heaven and earth's wonder O what is he if I could win in to see his inner side Oh I am run dâ—y of loving and wondering and adoring of that greatest most admirable one Woe woe is me I have not half-love for him Alas what can my drop doe to his great sea What gain is it to Christ that I have casten my little sparkle in his great fire What can I give to him Oh that I had love to fill a thousand worlds that I might emptie my soul of it all upon Christ I think I have now just reason to quite my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum and the refuse of the dross of God's work-manâ—hip this vain earth I ow to this stormy world whose kindness 〈◊〉 heart to me hath been made of iron or of a piece of a wilde sea-Island that never a creature of God yet lodged in not a look I ow it no love no hope therefore Oh if my love were dead to it my soul dead to it What am I obliged to this house of my pilgrimage A straw for all that God hath made to my soul's liking except God that lovely one Iesus Christ Seeing I am not this world's debter I desire I may be striped of all confidence in any thing but my Lord that he may be for me I for my onely onely onely Lord that he may be the morning evening-tide the top the root of my joyes the heart flower yolk of all my soul's delights O let me never lodge any creature in my heart confidence Let the house be for him I rejoyce that sad dayes cut off a piece of the lease of my short life that my shadow even while I suffer weareth long my evening hasteneth on I have cause to love home with all my heart to take the opportunity of the day to hasten to the
must be taken with violence Your afternoon's sun is wearing low Time will eat up your frail life like a worm gnawing at the root of a May-flower Lend Christ your heart Set him as a seal there Take him in within let the world and children stand at the door they are not yours make you and them for your proper owner Christ It is good He is your husband and their father What missing can there be of a dying man when God filleth his chair Give hours of the day to prayer Fash Christ If I may speak so and importune him be often at his gate give his door no rest I can tell you he will be found O what sweet fellowship is betwixt him and me I am imprisoned but he is not imprisoned He hath shamed me with his kindness He hath come to my pâ—ison run away with my heart all my love Well may he brooke it I wish my love get never an owner but Christ Fy fy upon old lovers that held us so long asunder We shall not parr now He I shall be heard before he win out of my grips I resolve to wrestle with Christ ere I quite him But my love to him hath casten my soul in a fever there is no cooling of my fever till I get râ—all possession of Christ O strong strong love of Jesus thou hast wounded my heart with thine arrows O pain O pain of love ioâ— Christ Who will help me to praise Let me have your prayers Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To GRISSAL FULLERTON 176 Dear Sister I Exhorr you in the Lord to seek your one thing Marie's good part that shall not be taken from you Set your heart soul on the Childrens inheritance This clay-idol the world is but for Bastards ye are his lawfull begotten childe Learn the way as your dear mother hath hath gone before you to knock at Christ's door Many an almes of mercy hath Christ given to Her hath abundance behinde to give to you Ye are the seed of the faithfull born within the Covenant claim your right I would not exchange Christ Jesus for ten worlds of glory I know now blessed be my teacher how to shut the lock unbolt my welbeloved's door he maketh a poor stanger welcome when he cometh to his house I am swelled up satisfied with the love of Christ that is better then wine It is a fire in my soul let hell the world cast water on it they will not mend themselves I have now gotten the right gate of Christ I recommend him to you above all things Come finde the smell of his breath See if his kisses be not sweet He desireth no better then to be much made of Be homely with him ye shall be the more welcome Ye know not how fain Christ would have all your love Think not this is imaginations bairns-play we make din for I would not suffer for it if it were so I dare pawnd my heaven for it that it is the way to glory Think much of truth abhorre these wayes devised by men in God's worship The Grace of Christ be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To PATRICK CARSEN 177 Dear loving friend I Cannot but upon the opportunity of a bearer exhort you to reâ—gnâ— the love of your youth to Christ in this day while your sun is high and your youth serveth you to seek the Lord and his face for there is nothing out of heaven so necessary for you as Christ And ye cannot be ignorant but your day will end the night of death will call you from the pleasures of this life a doom given out in death standeth for ever as long as God liveth Youth ordinarily is a Post ready servant for Satan to run errands for it is a nest for lust cursing drunkenness blaspheming of God lying pride vanitie O that there were such an heart in you as to fear the Lord to dedicate your soul body to his service When the time cometh that your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale and legs arms tremâ—le your breath grow cold your poor soul look out at youâ— prison-housâ— of clay to be set at liberty then a good conscience your Lord's favour shall be worth all the world's glory Seek it as your garland crown Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN CARSEN 178 My welbeloved dear friend EVery one â—eeketh not God far fewer finde him because they seek amiss He is to be sought for above all things if men would finde what they seek Let feathers shadows alone to children goe seek your welbeloved Your onely errand to the world is to wooe Christ therefore put other lovers from about his house let Christ have all your love without miniching or dividing it It is little enough if there were more of it The serving of the world sin hath but a base reward smoke in stead of pleatures but a night-dream for true case to the soul Goe where ye will your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom Come in to him lie down rest you on the slain Son of God enquire for him I sought him now a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures moth-eaten glory out of heaven since I have found him in him all I can want or â—ish He hath made me a King over the world Princes cannot overcome me Christ hath given me the marriage-kiss he hath my maâ—â—ing love We have made up a full bargain that shall not goe back on either side O if ye and all in that countrey knew what sweet terms of mercy are betwixt him me Grace be with you Aberd. March 11. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 179 MADAM I Would have written to your La ere now but peoples beleeving there is in me that which I know there is not hath put me out of love with writing to any for it is easie to put religion to a market publick fair but alas it is not so soon made eye-sweet for Christ My Lord seeth me a tired man far behinde I have gotten much love from Christ but I give him little or none again My whiteside cometh out in paper to men but at home within I finde much black work great cause of a low sail of little boasting yet Howbeit I see challenges to be true the manner of the Tempter's pressing of them is unhonest in my own thoughts knavish-like My peace is that Christ may finde sale â—uting of his wares in the like of me I mean for saving grace I wish all professors to fall in love with Grace All ouâ— songs should be of his free-Grace We are
but too lazie and careless in seeking of it It is all our riches we have here glory in the bud I wish I could set out â—ree Grace I was the Law 's man under the Law under a curse but Grace brought me from under that hard Lord I rejoyce that I am Grace's Free-holder I pay tribute to none for heaven seeing my land heritage holdeth of Christ my new King Infinite wisdom hath devised this excellent way of Free-holding for sinners It is a better way to heaven then the old way that was in Adam's dayes It hath this fair advantage that no man's emptiness want layeth an inhibition upon Christ or hindereth his salvation that is far best for me but our new Land-Lord putteth the names of Dyvours Adam's forlorn Heirs beggers crooked blinde in the free charters Heaven Angels may wonder that we have gotten such a gate of sin hell Such a back-entry out of hell as Christ made brought out the captives by is more then my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend I would think sufferings glory I am sometimes not far from it if my Lord would give me a new almes of free grace I hear that the Prelats are intending banishment for me but for more grace no other hire I would make it welcome The bits of this clay-house the earth the other side of the sea are my father's If my sweet Lord Jesus would bud my sufferings with a new measure of grace I were a rich man But I have not now of a long time found such high spring-tides as formerly The sea is out the wind of his Spirit calm I cannot buy a wind or by requesting the sea cause it to flow again onely I wait on upon the banks shore-side till the Lord send a full sea that with up-sailes I may lift up Christ Yet sorrow for his absence is sweet sighes with Saw ye him whom my soul loveth have their own delights Oh that I might gather hunger against his long-looked for return Well were my soul if Christ were the element mine own element that I loved breathed in him if I could not live without him I allow not laughter upon my self when He is away yet He never leaveth the house but the leaveth drink-money behinde him a pawne that he will return Woe woe to me if he should goe away take all his flitting with him Even to dream of him is sweet To build a house of pining wishes for his return to spin out a web of sorrow care languishing sighes either dry or wet as they may be because he hath no leisure if I may spâ—aâ— so to make a visite or to see a poor friend sweetneth refreâ—heth the thoughts of the heart A mistie dew will stand for rain doe some good keep some greenness in the herbs till our Lord's clouds â—ue upon the earth send down a watering of rain Truly I think Christ's mistie dew a welcome message from heaven till my Lorâ—'s rain fall Woe woe is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland Howbeit the Father of the house embrace a childe feed him kiss him yet it is sorrow and sadness to the children that our poor mother hath gotten her leave that our Father hath given up house It is an unheartsom thing to see our Father mother agree so ill yet the Bastards if they be fed care not O Lord cait not water on Scotland's smoking coal It is a strange gate the saints goe to heaven our enemies often eat drink us we goe to heaven through their bellies stomacks they vomit the church of God undigested among their hands even while we are shut up in prisons by them we advance in our jâ—urney Remember my service to my Lord your kinde Son who was kinde to me in my bonds was not ashamed to own me I would be glad that Christ got the morning-service of his life now in his young years It would sute him well to give Christ his young green love Christ's stamp and seal would goe far down in a young soul If he would receive the thrust of Christ's stamp I would desire him to make search for Christ for Nobles now are but dry friends to Christ. The Grace of God our Father the goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS ELDER 180. Worthy welbeloved in the Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper that I may know how your soul prospereth My desire longing in to hear that ye walk in the truth that ye are content to follow the despised but most lovely Son of God I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband your welbeloved your portion your comfort your joy I speak this of that lovely one because I praise commend the foord as we use to speak as I finde it He hath watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner He was alwayes kinde to my soul but never so kinde as now in my greatest extremittes I dine sup with Christ He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night-watches I perswade my soul that this is the way to heaven his own Truth I now suffer for I exhort you in the name of Christ to continue in the truth which I delivered to you Make Christ sure to your soul for your day draweth nigh to an end Many slide back now who seemed to be Christ's friends prove dishonest to him But be ye faithfull to the death ye shall have the crown of life This span-length of your dayes whereof the Spirit of God speaketh Psal. 39. will within a short time come to a finger-breadth at length to nothing O how sweet comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you when your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale the breath turn cold your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay of your dying body shall long to be out to have the jaylor to open the door that the prisoner may be set at liberty Ye draw nigh the water-side look your accounts Ask for your guide to take you to the other side Let not the world be your portion What have ye to doe with dead clay Ye are not a bastard but a lawfull begotten childe therefore set your heart on the inheritance Goe up before hand and see your lodging Look through all your father's rooms in heaven in your father's house are many dwelling-places Men take a sight of lands ere they buy them I know Christ hath made the bargain already But be kinde to the house ye are going to see it often Set your heart on things that are above where Christ is at the right
hand of God Stir up your husband to minde his own countrey at home Counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of God under him They are Christ's not his therefore desire him to shew them mercifull dealing kindness to be good to their souls I desire you to write to me It may be that my Parish forget me but my witness is in heaven I dow not I doe not forget them They' are my sighes in the night my tears in the day I think my self like an husband plucked from the wife of his youth O Lord be my Judge what joy it would be to my soul to hear that my ministery hath left the Son of God among them that they are walking in Christ Remember my love to your Son and Daughtre Desire them from me to seek the Lord in their youth and to give him the morning of their dayes Acquaint them with the word of God prayer Grace be with you Pray for the prisoner of Christ In my heart I forget you not Aberd. March 6. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES HAMILTON 181 Reverend dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Our acquaintance is neither in bodily presence nor in paper but as sons of the same father sufferers for the same truth Let no man doubt but the state of our question we are now forced to stand to by suffering exile imprisonment is If Iesus should reign over his Kirk or not Oh if my sinfull arm could hold the crown on his head howbeit it should be striken off from the shoulder-blade For your ensuing feared trial my very dearest in our Lord Iesus Alas what am I to speak to comfort a souldier of Christ who hath done an hundred times more for that worthy honourable cause then I can doe But I know these whom the world was not worthy of wandered up down in deserts in mountains in dens caves of the earth that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of heaven that member must suffer strokes till our Lord Jesus draw in that member within the gates of the new Ierusalem which he will not fail to doe at last for not one toe or finger of that body but it shall be take in within the city What can be our part in this pitched battel betwixt the Lamb the Dragon But to receive the darts in patience that rebound off us on upon our sweet Master or rather light first upon him then rebound off him upon his servants I think it a sweet North-wind that bloweth first upon the fair face of the chief among ten thousand then lighteth upon our sinfull black faces When once the wind bloweth off him upon me I think it hath a sweet smell of Christ so must besome more then a single cross I know ye have a guard about you your attendance train for your safety is far beyond your pursuers force or fraud It is good under feud to be near our war-house strong hold We can doe but little to resist them who persecut us oppose him but keep our blood our wounds to the next Court-day when our complaints will be read If this day be not Christ's I am sure the morrow shall be his As for any thing I doe in my bonds when now then a word falleth from me alas it is very little I am exceedingly grieved that any should conceive any thing to be in such a broken emptie reed let no man impute it to me that the free unbought wind for I gave nothing for it bloweth upon an empty reed I am his overburdened debter I cry down with me down down with all the excellency of the world up up with Christ Long long may that fair One that holy One be on high My curse be upon them that love him not O how glad would I be if his glory would grow out spring up out of my bonds sufferings Certainly since I became his prisoner he hath won the yolk heart of my soul Christ is even become a new Christ to me his love greener then it was now I strive no more with him his love shall carry it away I lay down my self under his love I desire to sing to cry to proclaim my self even under the water in his common eternally indebted to his kindness I will not offer to quite commons with him as we use to say for that will not be All all for evermore be Christ's What further trials are before me I know not but I know Christ will have a saved soul of me over on the other side of the water in the yonder side of crosses beyond mens wrongs I had but one eye that they have put out My one joy next to the flower of my joyes Christ was to preach my sweetest sweetest Master and the glory of his Kingdom and it seemed no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye And now I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair One's praises I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one note or one of Zion's springs to advance my Welbeloved's glory Oh if he would make some glory to himself out of a dumb prisoner I goe with childe of his word I cannot be delivered none here will have my Master Alas What aileth them at him I bless you for your prayers adde to them praises As I am able I pay you home I commend your diving in Christ's Testament I would I could set out the dead man's goodwill to his friends in his sweet Testament Speak a prisoner 's hearty commendations to Christ fear not your ten dayes will over These that are gathered against mount Zion their eyes shall melt away in their eye-holes and their tongues consume away in their mouthes Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland My Lord Jesus hath a word hid in heaven for Scotland not yet brought out Grace be with you Aberd. July 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MISTRESS STUART 182 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am sorry that ye take it so hardly that I have not written to you I am judged to be that which I am not I fear if I were put in the fire I should melt away fall down in sheards of painted nature For truly I have little stuff at home that is worth the eye of God's servants If there be any thing of Christ's in me as I dare not deny some of his work it is but a spunk of borrowed fire that can scarce warm my self hath little heat for standers by I would sain have that which ye and others beleeve I have but ye are onely witnesses to my utter side and to some words in paper Oh that he would give me
low sail I would I had desires with wings running upon wheels swift active speedy in longing for Christ's honour But I know my Lord is as wise here as I dow be thirsty infinitely more zealous of his honour then I can be hungered for the manifestation of it to men angels But Oh that my Lord would take my desires off my hand adde a thousand-fold more unto them and sowe spiritual inclinations upon them for the coming of Christ's Kingdom to the sons of men that they might be higher and deeper longer broader For my longest measures are too short for Christ my depth is ebbe the breadth of my affections to Christ narrow pinched Oh for an ingine a wit to prescribe wayes to men how Christ might be all in all the world Wit is here behinde affection affection behinde obligation Oh how little dow I give to Christ and how much hath he given me Oh that I could sing grace's praises love's praises Seeing I was like a fool solisting the Law making moyen to the Law 's court for mercy found challenges that way but now I deny that Judge's power for I am Grace's man I hold not worth a drink of water of the Law or of any Lord but Jesus And till I bethought me of this I was slain with doubtings and fears terrours I praise the new court the new Land-lord the new Salvation purchased in Jesus his name at his instance Let the old man if he please goe make his moan to the Law seek acquaintance thereaway because he is condemned in that Court I hope the new man I Christ together shall not be heard and this is the more soft and the more easie way for me for my cross together Seeing Christ singeth my welcome-home and taketh me in maketh short counts short work of reckoning betwixt me my Judge I must be Christ's man his Tennant subject to his Court I am sure suffering for Christ could not be born otherwise But I give my hand my faith to all who would suffer for Christ they shall be well handled fare well in the same way that I have found the cross easie light Grace be with you Aberd. July 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Garlock 184 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you If Christ were as I am that time could work upon him to alter him or that the morrow could be a new day to him or bring a new minde upon him as it is to me a new day I could not keep a house or a covenant with him But I finde Christ to be Christ that he is far far even infinite heavens height above man And that is all our happiness Sinners can doe nothing but make wounds that Christ may heal them and make debts that he may pay them and make falls that he may raise them make deaths that he may quicken them spin out dig hells to themselves that he may ransom them Now I will bless the Lord that ever there was such a thing as the free Grace of God a free ransom given for sold souls Onely alas guiltiuess maketh me ashamed to apply Christ to think it pride in me to put out my unclean withered hand to such a Saviour but it is neither shame nor pride for a drowning man to swim to a rock nor for a ship-broken soul to run himself a shore upon Christ Suppose once I be guilty need force I cannot I dow not goe by Christ We take in good part that pride that beggers beg from the richer who is so poor as we who is so rich as he who selleth fine gold Rev. 3 18. I see then it is our best let guiltiness plead what it listeth that we have no mean under the covering of heaven but to creep in lowly submissively with our wants to Christ I have also cause to give his cross as good name report O how worthy is Christ of my feckless light suffering how hath he deserved it at my hands that for his honour glory I should lay my back under seven hells pain in one if he call me to that but alas my soul is like a ship run on ground through ebbeness of water I am sanded and and my love is sanded I finde not how to bring it on float again it is so cold and dead that I see not how to bring it to a flame Fy fy upon the meeting that my love hath given Christ woe woe is me I have a lover Christ yet I want love for him I have a lovely desirable Lord who is love-worthy who beggeth my love heart I have nothing to give him Dear Brother come further in on Christ see a new treasure in him come in look down see Angels wonder heaven earth's wonder of love sweetness majesty excellency in him I forget you not pray for me that our Lord would be pleased to send me among you again fraughted full of Christ. Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN BELL Elder 185 My very loving friend GRace mercy peace be to you I have very often long expected your letter but if ye be well in soul body I am the less solicitous I beseech you in the Lord Jesus to minde your country above now when old age the twilight going before the darkness of the grave the falling low of your sun before your night is now come upon you advise with Christ ere ye put your foot in the ship turn your back on this life Many are beguiled with this that they are tree of scandalous crying abominations but the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is for the fire the man that is not born again cannot enter into the kingdom of God common honesty will not take men to heaven Alas that men should think they ever met with Christ who had never a sick night through the terrours of God in their soul or a sore heart for sin I know the Lord hath given you light the knowledge of his will but that is not all neither will that doe your turn I wish you an awakned soul that ye beguile not your self in the matter of your salvation My dear Brother search your self with the candle of God try if the life of God Christ be in you Salvation is not casten to every man's door Many are carried over see land to a far countrey in a ship whileas they sleep much of all the way but men are not landed at heaven sleeping The righteous are scarcily saved and many run as fast as either ye or I who miss the prize and the crown God send me salvation and save me from a disappointment
and I seek no more Men think it but a stryde or a step over to heaven but when so few are saved even of a mumber like the sand of the sea but a handfull a remnant as God's word saith what cause have we to shake our selves out of our selves to ask our poor soul whether goest thou where shalt thou lodge at night Where are thy charters and writes of thy heavenly inheritance I have known a man turn a key in a door lock it by Many men leap over as they think leap in O see see that ye give not your salvation a wrong cast think all is well leave your soul loose uncertain look to your building to your ground-stone what signes of Christ are in you set this world behinde your back It is time now in the evening to cease from your ordinary work high time to know of your lodging at night It is your Salvation that is in dependence that is a great weighty business though many make light of the matter Now the Lord enable you by his grace to work it out Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull and loving Pastor S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON Of Robertovvn 186 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you So often as I think on our case in our souldiers night-watch of our sighting life in the fields while we are here I am forced to say prisoners in a dungeon condemned by a judge to want the light of the sun and moon candle till their dying day are no more nay not so much to be pitied as we are for they weary of their life they hate their prison But we fall to in our prison where we see little to drink our selves drunk with the night-pleasures of our weak dreams we long for no better life then this but at the blast of the last trumpet the shout of the Archangel when God shall take down the shepherd's tent of this fading world we shall not have somuch as a drink of water of all the dreams that we now build on Alas that the sharp bitter blasts on face sides which meet us in this life have not learned us mortification made us dead to this world We buy our own sorrow we pay dear for it when we spend out our love our joy our desires our confidence upon an handfull of snow ice that time will melt away to nothing go thirstie out of the drunken Innes when all is done Alas that we enquire not for the clear fountain but are so foolish as to drink foul muddy rotten waters even till our bed-time then in the resurrection when we shall be awakned our yesternight's sowre drinke swinish dregs shall rift up upon us and sick sick shall many a soul be then I know no wholesom fountain but one I know not a thing worth the buying but heaven And my own minde is if comparison were made betwixt Christ heaven I would sell heaven with my blessing buy Christ. Oh if I could raise the market for Christ heighten the market a pound for a penny cry up Christ in mens estimation ten thousand talents more then men think of him But they are shaping him crying him down valuing him at their unworthy half-penny or else exchanging bartering Christ with the miserable old fallen house of this vain world or then they lend him out upon interest play the usurers with Christ Because they profess him give out before men that Christ is their treasure stock in the mean time praise of men a name case the summmer-sun of the Gospel is the usury they would be at so when the trial cometh they quite the stock for the interest loose all Happy are they who can keep Christ by himself alone and keep him clean and whole till God come count with them I know in your hard and heavy trials long since ye thought well and highly of Christ but truly no cross should be old to us We should not forget them because years are come betwixt us and them cast them by hand as we doe old clothes We may make a cross old in time new in use as fruitfull as in the beginning of it God is where and what he was seven years agoe what ever change be in us I speak not this as if I thought ye had forgotten what God did to have your love long since but that ye may awake your self in this sleepy age remember fruitfully of Christ's first wooing and suiting of your love both with fire water try if he got his answer or if ye be yet to give him it For I finde in my self that water runneth not faster through a sieve then our warnings slip from us for I have lost casten by hands many summonds the Lord sent to me therefore the Lord hath given me double charges that I trust in God shall not rive me I bless his great name who is no niggard in holding in crosses upon me but spendeth largely his rods that he may save me from this perishing world how plentifull God is in means of this kinde is esteemed by many one of God's unkinde mercies but Christ's cross is neither a cruel nor unkinde mercy but the love-token of a father I am sure a lover chasing us for our well to have our love should not be run away from or fled God send me no worse mercy then the sanctified cross of Christ portendeth I am sure I should be happy blest Pray for me that I may finde house-room in the Lord's house to speak in his name Remember my dearest love in Christ to your wife Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 187 MADAM GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied upon you I have reasoned with your son at large I rejoyce to see him set his face in the right airth now when the Nobles love the sunny side of the Gospel best and are afraid that Christ want souldiers and shall not be able to doe for himself Madam our debts of obligation to Christ are not small the freedom of grace salvation is the wonder of man and Angels but mercy in our Lord scorneth hire Ye are bound to lift Christ on high who hath given you eyes to discern the Devil now coming out in in his white 's the Idolatry and Apostacy of the time well washen with fair pretences but the skin is black the water foul It were art I confess to wash a black Devil and make him white I am in strange up's down's seven times a day I lose ground I am put often to swimming and again my feet are set on the rock that is higher then my self He hath now let me see 4 Things I never saw before 1.
to Christ his oppressed truth I am bold to write to you earnestly desiring you to joyn with us so many as in these bounds profess Christ to wrestle with God one day of the week especially the Wedensday for mercy to this fallen decayed Kirk and to such as suffer for Christ's name for your own necessities the necessities of others who are by covenant engaged in that business For we have no other armour in these evil times but prayers now when wrath from the Lord is gone out against this back-sliding land for ye know we can have no true publike fasts neither are the true causes of our humiliation ever laid before the people Now very worthy Sir I am glad in the Lord that the Lord reserveth any of your place or of note in this time of common Apostacy to come forth in publike to bear Christ's name before men when the great men think Christ a cumbersom neighbour and that religion carrieth hazards trials persecutions with it I perswade my self it is your glory your garland shall be your joy in the day of Christ the standing of your house seed to inherit the earth that ye truly sincerely profess Christ Neither is our King whom the father hath crowned in mount Zion so weak that he cannot doe for himself his own cause I verily beleeve they are blessed who can hold the crown upon his head and carry up the train of his robe royal and that he shall yet be victorious and triumph in this land It is our part to back our royal King howbeit there were not six in all the land to follow him It is wisdom now to take up and discern the devil the Antichrist coming out in their whites the Apostacy Idolatry of this land washen with foul water I confess it is art to wash the Devil till his skin be white For my self Sir I have bought a plea against Christ since I came hither in judging my princely Master angry at me because I was cast out of the vineyard as a withered tree my dumb sabbaths working me much sorrow But I see now sorrow hath not eyes to read love written upon the cross of Christ therefore I pass from my rash plea Woe woe is me that I should have received a slander of Christ's love to my soul for all this my Lord Jesus hath forgiven all as not willing to be heard with such a fool is content to be as it were confined with me to bear me company to feast a poor oppressed prisoner And now I write it under my hand Worthy Sir that I think well honourably of this cross of Christ I wonder that he will take any glory from the like of me I finde that when he but sendeth his hearty commendations to me but bloweth a kiss afar off I am confounded with wondering what the supper of the Lamb will be up in our father's dining-palace of glory since the four-hours in his dismall wilderness when in prisons in our sad dayes a kiss of Christ is so comfortable O how sweet glorious shall our case be when that fairest among the sons of men shall lay his fair face to our now sinfull faces wipe away all tears from our eyes O Time Time run swiftly hasten that day O sweet Lord Jesus come flying like a roe or a young hart Alas that we blinde fools are fallen in love with moon-shine shadows how sweet is the wind that bloweth out of the airth where Christ is Every day we may see some new thing in Christ his love hath neither brim nor bottom Oh if I had help to praise him He knoweth if my sufferings glorifie his name encourage others to stand fast for the honour of our supream Law-giver Christ my wages then are payed to the full Sir help me to love that never-enough praised Lord. I finde now that the faith of the saints under suffering for Christ is fair before the wind with full sails carried upon Christ I hope to lose nothing in this furnace but dross for Christ can triumph in a weaker man then I am if there be any such And when all is done his love paineth me leaveth me under such debt to Christ as I can neither pay principal nor interest Oh if he would comprize my self if I were sold to him as a bond-man that he would take me home to his house fire-side for I have nothing to render to him Then after me let no man think hard of Christ's sweet cross for I would not change my sighs with the painted laughter of all my adversaries I desire grace in patience to wait on to lie upon the brink till the water fill flow I know he is fast coming Sir ye will excuse my boldness till it please God I see you ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ to whom I recommend you in whom I rest Aberd. May 14. 1637. Yours at all obedience in Christ S. R. To JOHN CLARK 190. Loving Brother HOld fast Christ without wavering contend for the faith because Christ is not easily gotten nor kept The lazie professour hath put heaven as it were at the very next door thinketh to flye up to heaven in his bed and in a night-dream but truly that is not so easie a thing as most men beleeve Christ himself did sweat ere he won this city howbeit he was the free-born Heir It is Christianity My heart to be sincere unfeigned honest upright-hearted before God to live serve God suppose there were not one man or woman in all the world dwelling beside you to eye you Any little grace that ye have see that it be sound true Ye may put a difference betwixt you and reprobats if ye have these markes 1. If ye prize Christ his truth so as ye will sell all buy him suffer for it 2. If the love of Christ keepeth you back from sinning more then the Law or fear of hell 3. If ye be humble deny your own will wit credit ease honour the world the vainity glory of it 4. Your profession must not be barren void of good works 5. Ye must in all things aime at God's honour ye must eat drink sleep buy sell sit stand speak pray read and hear the word with a heart-purpose that God may be honoured 6. Ye must shew your self an enemy to sin and reprove the works of darkness such as drunkenness swearing lying albeit the company should hate you for doing so 7. Keep in minde the truth of God that ye heard me teach and have nothing to doe with the corruptions and new guises entred into the house of God 8. Make conscience of your calling in covenants in buying selling 9. Acquaint your self with daily praying commit all your wayes actions to God by prayer supplication thank
giving and count not much of being mocked for Christ Jesus was mocked before you Perswade your self that this is the way of peace and comfort I now suffer for I dare goe to death in to eternity with it though men may possibly seek another way Remember me in your prayers the state of this oppressed Church Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's Well-wisher S. R. To CARDONNESS Elder 191 Much honoured Sir I long to hear how your soul prospereth I wonder that ye write not to me for the holy Ghost beareth me witness I cannot I dare not I dow not forget you nor the souls o these with you who are redeemed by the blood of the greaf Shepherd Ye are in my heart in the night watches ye are my◠joy crown in the day of Christ O Lord bear witness if my soul thirsteth for any thing out of heaven more then for your salvation Let God lay me in an even ballance try me in this Love heaven let your heart be on it Up up visit the new land view the fair city the white throne the Lamb the bride 's husband in his bridegroom's clothes sitting on it It were time your soul should cast it self all your burdens upon Christ. I beseech you by the wounds of your Redeemer by your compearance before him by the salvation of your soul lose no more time run fast for it is late God hath sworn by himself who made the world and time that time shall be no more Rev. 10 Ye are now upon the very border of the other life your Lord cannot be blamed for not giving you warning I have taught the truth of Christ to you delivered unto you the whole counsel of God I have stood before the Lord for you I shall yet still stand awake awake to doe righteously Think not to be eased of the burthens debts that are on your house by oppressing any or being rigorous to these that are under you remember how I endeavoured to walk before you in this matter as an example behold here am I witness against me before the Lord his Anointed whose ox or whoseass have I taken Whom have I defrauded Whom have I oppressed Who knoweth how my soul feedeth upon a good conscience when I remember how I spent this body in feeding the lambs of Christ At my first entry hither I grant I took a stomack against my Lord because he had casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree would have no more of my service My dumb sabbaths broke my heart and I would not be comforted but now he whom my soul love this come again and it pleaseth him to feast me with the kisses of his love A King dineth with me and his spikenard casteth a sweet smell The Lord my witness is above that I write my heart to you I never knew by my nine years preaching so much of Christ's love as he hath taught me in Aberden by six moneths imprisonment I charge you in Christ's name help me to praise shew that people countrey the loving kindness of the Lord to my soul that so my sufferings may someway preach to them when I am silent He hath made me know now better then before what it is to be crucified to the world I would not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's kindness I ow no service to it I am not the flesh's debter My Lord Jesus hath dâted his prisoner hath thoughts of love concerning me I would not exchange my sighs with the laughing of my adversaries Sir I write this to inform you that ye may know it is the truth of Christ I now suffer for he hath sealed nay sufferings with the comforts of his spirit on my soul I know he putteth not his seal upon blank paper Now Sir I have no comfort earthly but to know that I have espoused and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation The Lord hath given you much and therefore he will require much of you again Number your talents see what ye have to render back again ye cannot be enough perswaded of the shortness of your time I charge you to write to me in the fear of God be plain with me whether or no ye have made your salvation sure I am confident hope the best but I know your reckonings with your Judge are many and deep Sir be not beguiled neglect not your one thing Philip. 3 13 your one necessary thing Luke 10 42 the good part that shall not be taken from you Look beyond time things here are but moon-shine they have but Childrens wit who are delighted with shadows deluded withfeathers flying in the air Desire your children in the morning of their life to begin seek the Lord to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth Eccles. 12 1. to cleanse their way by taking heed thereto according to God's word Ps. 119 9. youth is a glassy age Satan findes a swept chamber for the most part in youth-hood a garnished lodging for himself his train Let the Lord have the flower of their age The best sacrifice is due to him Instruct them in this that they have a soul that this life is nothing in comparison of eternity They will have much need of God's conduct in this world to guide them by these rocks upon which most men split but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death their compearance before Christ. O that there were such a heart in them to fear the name of the great dreadfull God who hath laid up great things for these that love fear him I pray that God may be their portion Show others of my parishoners that I write to them my best wishes and the blessings of their lawfull Pastor Say to them from me that I beseech them by the bowels of Christ to keep in minde the Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which I taught them that so they may lay hold on eternal life striving together for the faith of the Gospel making sure salvation to themselves Walk in love doe righteousness seek peace love one another wait for the coming of our Master Judge Receive no doctrine contrary to that which I delivered to you If ye fall away forget it that Catechisme which I taught you so forsake your own mercy the Lord be judge betwixt you me I take heaven earth to witness that such shall eternally perish but if they serve the Lord great will their reward be when they I shall stand before our Judge Set forward up the mountain to meet with God climb up for your Saviour calleth on you It may be God call you to your rest when I am far from you but ye have my love the desires of my heart for your souls wel-fare
his besieged city for you Aberd. Feb. 7. 1637. Your brother fellow sufferer S. R. To Mr EPHRAIM MELVIN 199 Reverend dear Brother I Received your letter am contented with all my heart that our acquaintance in our Lord continue I am wrestling as I dow up the mount with Christ's cross My second is kinde able to help As for your questions because of my manifold distractions letters to multitudes I have not time to answer them What shall be said in common for that shall be imparted to you for I am upon these questions therefore spare me a little for the Service-book would take a great timeâ— but I think Sicut deosculatio religio sà imaginis aut etiam elâ—mentorum est in se idololatria externa etsi intentio deosculandi tota quanta in actu est feratur in Deum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it a geniculatio coram pane quando nempe ex instituto totus homo externus internus ver sarâ— debeat circa elementaria signa est adoratio relativa adoratioâ— sius panis Ratio Intentio adorandi objectum materiale non est de essentiâ externae adorationis ut pateâ— iâ— deosculatione religio sà Sic geniculatio coram imagine Babylonicâ est externa adoratio imaginis etsitrâ—s pueri mente intendissent adorare Iehovam Sic qui ex metu solo aut spe pretij aut inanis gloria geniculatur coram aureo vitulo Ieroboami quod ab ipso rege qui nullà religione inductâ—s sed libidine dominâ—ndi tantum vitulumerexit factitatum esse textus satis luculenter clamat adorat vitulum externâ adoratione esto quod putaret vitulum esse meram creaturam honore nullo dignum quia geniculatio sive nos nolumâ—s sive volumus ex instituto Dei naturae in actu religioso est symbolum religiosae adorationis Ergo sicut panis signat corpus Christi etsi absit actus omnis nostrae intentionis sic religiosae geniculatio sublatâ omni intentione humanâ est externae adoratio paniscoram quo adoramus ut coram signo vicario repraesentativo Dei Thus recommending you to God's tender mercy I desire that ye would remember me to God sanctification shall settle you most in the truth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your Brother in Christ Iesus S. R. To a Gentle woman upon the death of her husband 200 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot but rejoyce and withall be grieved at your case It hath pleased the Lord to remove your husband my friend this Kirk's faithfull professor soon to his rest but shall we be sorry that our losse is his gain seeing his Lord would want his company no longer think not much of short summonds for seeing he walked with his Lord in his life desired that Christ should be magnified in him at his death ye ought to be silent and satisfied When Christ cometh for his own he runneth fast mercy mercy to the saints goeth not at leisure love love in our Redeemer is not slow withall he is homely with you who cometh at his own hand to your house and intrometeth as a friend with any thing that is yours I think he would fain borrow lend with you Now he shall meet with the solacious company the fair flock and blessed bairn-time of the first-born banquetting at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. It is mercy that the poor wand iâ—g sheep get a dike-fide in this storn iâ— day and a lecking ship a safe harbrie a sea-sick passenger a sound and soft bed a shore Wrath wrath wrath from the Lord iâ— coming upon this land that he hath left behinde him know therefore that your Lord Jesus his wounds are the wounds of a lover and that he will have compassion upon a sad hearted servant and that Christ hath said he will have the husband's room in your heart he loved you in your first husband's time and he is but wooeing you still give him heart and chair house and all he will not be made companion with any other love is full of Jealousies he will have all your love and who should get it but He I know ye allow it upon him there are comforts both sweet satisfying laid up for you wait on first Christ he is an honest debter Now for mine own case I think some poor body would be glad of a dâted prisoner's leavings I have no scarcitie of Christ's love he hath wasted moe comforts upon his poor banished servant then would have refreshed many souls my burden was once so heavie that one cunce weight would have casten the ballance broken my back but Christ said hold hold to my sorrow hath wiped a bluchered face which was foul with weeping I may joyfully goâ— my Lord's errands with wages in my hands deferred hopes need not to make me dead swier as we use to say my crosse is both my crosse my reward Oh that men would sound his high praises I love Christ's worst reproaches his glooms his crosse better then all this world 's plastered glory my heart is not longing to be back again from Christ's countrey it ' a sweet soil I aâ— coâ—e to I if any in the world have good cause to speak much good of him O Hell were a good cheap price to buy him aâ— Oh if all the three Kingdoms were witnesses to â—y pained pained soul overcome wounded with Christ's love I thank you most kindly my dear Sister for your love render care to my brother I will think my self obliged to you if ye continue his friend he is more to me then a brother now being engaged to suffer for so honourable a master and cause pray for Christ's prisoner and Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 16â—6 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To His reverend dear Brother Mr JOHN NEVAY 201 My reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have exceeding many â—wâ—ite to else I would be kinder in paper I rejoyce that my sweet Master hath any to oack him Thick thick may my royal Kings Court be O that his Kingdom might grow It were my joy to have his house full of guests Except that I have some cloudy dayes for the most part I have a King's life with Christ he is all perfumed with the powders of thâ— marchant he hath a King's face a King'â— smell his chariot wherein be carrieth his poor prisoneri of the wood of Lebanon it is paved with love is not that soft ground to walk or lie on I think better of Christ then ever I did my thoughts of his love grow swell on me I never write to any of him so much as I have felt Oh if If could write a book of Christ of his love Suppose I were made white ashes burnt for this same truth that men count but as knots of straws it were my gain if
my ashes could proclaim the worth excellency love of my Lord Jesus There is much telling in Christ I give over the weighing of him Heaven would not be the beam of a ballance to weigh him in What eyes be on me or what wind of tongues be on me I care not Let me stand in this stage in the fools coat act a fools part to the rest of this nation If I can set my welbeloved on high witness fair for him a fig for their Hosanna If I can roll my self in a lap of Christ's garment I will â—e there laugh at the thoughts of dying bits of clay Brother we have cause to weep for our harlot-mother her husband is sending her to Rome's brothell-house which is the gate she liketh well Yet I perswade you there shall be a fair after-growth for Christ in Scotland this Church shall sing the Bridegroom's welcome-home again to his own house The worms shall eat them first ere they cause Christ take good-night at Scotland I am here assaulted with the Doctors gun but I bless the father of lights they draw not blood of truth I finde no lodging in the heart of natural men who are cold friends to my Master I pray you Remember my love to that Gentleman A. C. My heart is knit to him because he I have one Master Remember my bands present my service to my Lord my Lady I wish Christ may be dearer to them then to many of their place Grace be with you Aberd. July 5. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 202. GRace mercy peace be to you Few I beleeve knâ—w the pain torment of Christ's fristed love fristing of Christ's presence is a matter of torment I know a poor soul that would lay all oars in the water for a banquet or feast oâ—â— Christ's love I cannot think but it must be uptaking sweet to see the white red of Christ's fair face for he is white ruddy the chiefest among ten thousands Cant 5 10. I am sure that must be a well made face of his heaven must be in his visage glory glory for evermore must â—it on his countenance I dare not curse the mask covering that is on his face but O if there were a hole in it O if God would tear the mask Fy fy upon us we were never shamed till nowâ— that we doe not proclaim our pining languishing for him I am sure nevâ—r tongue spake of Christ as he is I am still of that minde and still will be that we wrong undervalue that holy holy One in having such short and shallow thoughts of his weight worth O if I could have but leave to stand beside see the Father weigh Christ the Son if it were possible But how every one of them comprehendeth another we who have eyes of clay cannot comprehend But it is pity for evermore more then shame that such an one as Christ should sit in heaven his alone for us To goe up thither one's errand and on purpose to see were no small glory O that he would strike out windows fair and great lights in this old house this fallen down soul and then set the soul near hand Christ that the rays beams of light th soul-delighting glances of the fair fair God-head might shine in at the windows fill the house A fairer more near direct sight of Christ would make room for his love for we are but pinched straitned in his love Alas it were easy to measure weigh all the love that we have for Christ by inches and ounces Alas that we should love by measure weight and not rather have floods feasts of Christ's love Oh that Christ would break down the old narrow vessels of these narrow ebbe souls make fair deep wide broad souls to hold a sea a full tide flowing over all it's banks of Christ's love Oh that the Almighty would give me my request That I might see Christ come to his temple again as he is minting it's like minding to doe if the land were humbled the judgements threatned are with this reservation I know if we shall turn and repent O what heaven should we want on earâ—h to see Scotland's moon like the light of the Sun Scotland's sun-light seven fold like the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people healeth the stroke of their wounds Isa. 30 26. Alas that we will not pull draw Christ to his old tents again to come feed among the lilies till the day break shadows flee away O that the Noblâ—s would goe on in the strength courage of the Lord to bring our lawfull King Jesus home again I am perswaded he shall return again in glory to this land but happy â—ere they who could help to convoy him to his sanctuary set him again up upon the mercy-seat betwixt the Cherâ—bâ—ms O Sun return to darkned Britain O fairest among all the sons of men O most excellent One come home again come home win the praises blessings of the mourners in Zion the prisoners of hope that wait for thee I know he can also triumph in suffering weep reign die triumph remain in prison yet subdue his enemies But how happy were I to sâ—e the coronation day of Christ to see his mother who bare him put the crown upon his head again cry with shouting till the earth should ring Let Iesus our King live reign for evermore Grace grace be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 203. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I would desire to know how my Lord took my letter I sent him how he is I desire nothing but that he be fast and honest to my royal Master King I am well every way all praise to him in whose books I must stand for ever as his debter Onely my silence paineth me I had one joy out of heaven next to Christ my Lord that was to preach him to this faithless generation they have taken that from me It was to me as the poor man's one eye they have put out that eye I know the violence done to me his poor be-rest Bride is come up before the Lord suppose I see not the other side of my cross or what my Lord will bring out of it yet I beleeve the vision shall not tarry that Christ is on his journey for my deliverance he goeth not slowly but passeth over ten mountains at one stride In the mean time I am pained with his love because I want reall possession when Christ cometh he stayeth not long but certainly the blowing of his breath upon a poor soul is heaven upon earth
to be carried in Christ's arms out of this borrowed prison Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the â—aird of CARLETOUN 207 Worthy Six GRace mercy and peace be to you I received your letter am heartily glad that our Lord hath begun to work for the apparent delivery of this poor oppressed Kirk O that salvation would come for Zion I am for the present hanging by hope waiting what my Lord will doe with me if it will please my sweet Master to send me amongst you again keep out a hireling from my poor people flock It were my heaven till I come home even to spend this liâ—e in gathering in some to Christ. I have still great heaviness for my silence my forced standing idle in the market when this land hath such a plentifull thick harvest but I know his judgements who hath done it pass fiâ—…ding out I have no nowledge to take up the Lord in all his strange wayes 〈◊〉 pâ—ssages of deep unsearchable providences for the Lord is bâ—fore me I am so be-misted that I cannot follow him He is behinde me and following at the heels and I am not aware of him he is above me but his glory so 〈◊〉 my twilight of short knowledge that I cannot look up to him He is upon my right hand and I see him no He is upon my left hand and within me and goeth and comâ—th his going coming are a drâ—aâ—… to me He is round about me compâ—…th â—l my goingâ— aâ—d still I have him to eek He is every way higher dâ—eper broadâ—r then the shallow ebbe hand-breadth of my shoâ—t dâ—… light can take up therefore I would my heart could be silent sit down in the learnedly-ignorant wondering at that Lord whom m n Angâ—ls caâ—not comprehend I know the noon-day-light of the highest Angels who see him face to face seeth not the borders of his infiniteness They apprehend God near hand but they cannot comprehend him And therefore it is my happiness to look afar off and to come near to the Lord's back parts to light my dark candle at his brightness to have leave to sit content my self with a traveller's light without the clear vision of an enjoyer I would seek no more till I were in my countrey but a little watering sprinkling of a withered soul with some half out breakin gs half-outlookings of the beam and small raviâ—hing smiles of the fairest face of a revealed beleeved on Godhead A little of God would make my soul bank-full O that I had but Christ's odde off fallings that he would let but the meanest of his love-rayes love-beams fall from him so as I might gather carry them with me I would not be ill to please with Christ and vailed visions of Christ neither would I be dainty in seeing and enjoying of him A kiss of Christ blowen over his shoulder the parings and crumbs of glory that fall under his table in heaven a shower like a thin May-mist of his love would make me green and sappy joyfull till the summer-sun of an eternall glory break up O that I had any thing of Christ O that I had a sip or half a drop out of the hollow of Christ's hand of the sweetness excellency of that lovely One O that my Lord Jesus would â—ue upon me give me but the meanest almes of felt beleeved salvation O how little were it for that infinite sea that infinite fountain of love joy to fill as many thousand thousand little vessels the like of me as there are minutes of hours since the creation of God! I finde it true that a poor soul finding half a smell of the Godhead of Christ hath desires paining wounding the poor heart so with longings to be up at him that make it sometimes think were it not better never to have felt any thing of Christ then thus to lie dying twenty deaths under these felt wounds for the want of him O where is he O fairest Where dwellest thou O never enough admired Godhead how can clay win up to thee How can creatures of yesterday be able to enjoy thee O what pain is it that time sin should be as so many thousand miles betwixt a loved longed-for Lord a dwining love-sick soul who would rather then all the world have lodging with Christ O let this bit love of ours this inch half span-length of heavenly longging meet with thy infinite love O if the little I have were swallowed up with the infiniteness of that excellency which is in Christ O that we little ones were in at the greatest Lord Jesus our wants should soon be swallowed up with his fulness Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 208 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter from Edinburgh I would not wish to see another heaven whâ—â—e I get mine own heaven but a new moon like the light of the sun a new sun like the light of seven days shining upon my poor self the Church of Iews Gentiles upon my withered sun-burnt mother the Church of Scotland upon her sister Churches England Ireland to have this done to to the setting on high our great King it maketh not howbeit I were separate from Christ had a sense of ten thousand years pain in hell if this were O blessed Nobility O glorious renouned Gentry O blessed were the tribes in this land to wipe my Lord Jesus's weeping face to take the sackcloth off Christ's loins to put his kingly robes upon him O if the Almighty would take no less wager of me then my heaven to have it done But my fears are still for wrath once upon Scotland But I know her day shall clear up glory shall be upon the top of the mountains and joy at the noise of the married wife once again O that our Lord would make us to contend plead wrestle by prayers tears for our husband's restoring of his forfeited heritage in Scotland Dear Brother I am for the present in no small battel betwixt felt guiltiness and pining longings high fevers for my welbeloved's love Alas I think Christ's love playeth the niggard to me I know it is not for scarcity of love there is enough in him but my hunger prophesieth of in-holding and sparingness in Christ for I have but little of him and little of his sweetness It is a dear summer with me yet there is such joy in the eagerness working of hunger for Christ that I am often at this that if I had no other heaven but a continuall hunger for Christ such a heaven of ever-working hunger were still a heaven to me I am sure Christ's love cannot be cruel
the dear saints of God! This before my compearance which was three several dayes did trouble me burdeneth me more now howbeit Christ in him God reconciled met me with open arms trysted me precisely at the entry of the door of the Chancellour's hall assisted me to answer so as the advantage that is is not their's but Christ's Alas There is no cause of wondering that I am thus born down with challenges for the world hath mistaken me no man knoweth what guiltiness is in me so well as these two who keep my eyes now waking my heart heavie I mean my Heart Conscience my Lord who is greater then my Heart Shew your brother that I desire him while he is on the watch-tower to plead with his mother to plead with thiâ—land spare not to cry for my sweet Lord Jesus his fair crown that the interdited forbidden Lords are plucking off his royal head If I were free of challenges a High Commission within my soul. I would not give a straw to goe to my father's house through ten deaths for the truth cause of my lovely lovely one Iesus But I walk in heaviness now If ye love me Christ in me my dear Lady pray pray for this onely that by-gones betwixt my Lord me may be by-gones that he would pass from the summonds of his High Commission seek nothing from me but what he will doe for me work in me If your La knew me as I doe my self ve would say Poor soul no marvel It is not my apprehension that createth this cross to me it is too real hath sad certain grounds But I will not beleeve that God will take this advantage of me when my back is at the wall He who forbiddeth to adde affliction to affliction will he doe it himself Why should â—e pursue a dry leaâ— stubble Desire him to spare me now Also the memory of the fair feast-dayes that Christ I had in his banquetting house of wine the scattered flock once committed to me now taken off my hand by himself because I was not so faithfull in the end as I was in the first two years of my entry when sleep departed from my eyes because my soul was taken up with a care for Christ's lambs even these adde sorrow to my sorrow Now my Lord hath onely given me this to say I write it under mine own hand be ye the Lord's servant's witness Welcome welcome sweet sweet cross of Christ welcome fair fair lovely royal King with thine own cross Let us all three goe to heaven together Neither care I much to goe from the South of Scotland to the North to be Christ's prisoner amongst 〈◊〉 couth faces a place of this Kingdom which I have little reason to be in love with I know Christ shall make Abâ—rdeen my garden of delights I am fully perswaded that Scotland shall â—at Ezâ—kiel's book that is written within without Lamenâ—… mourniâ—g â—oe Ezek. 2 10. But the saints shall get a drink of the well that goeth through the streets of the nâ—w Ierusalem to put it down Thus hoping ye will think upon the poor prisoner of Christ I pray Grace grace be with you Edinb July 30. 1636. Your La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. 〈◊〉 To ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlestovvn 212 Much honoured Sir I Finde small hopes of Qs. business I intend after the Councel-day to goe on to Aberdeen The Lord is with me I care not what man can doe I burden no man I want nothing No King is better provided then I am Sweet sweet easie is the cross of my Lord All men I look in the face of whatsoever rank Nobles poor acquaintance strangers are friendly to me My welbeloved is some kinder more warmly then ordinary cometh and visiteth my soul My chains are overguilded with gold Onely the remembrance of my fair dayes with Christ in Anwoth of my dear floâ—â— whose case is my heart's sorrow is vinegar to my sugared wine yet both sweet sowre feed my soul No pen no words no ingine can express to you the loveliness of my onely onely Lord Jesus Thus in haste making for my palace at Aberdeen I bless you your wife your eldest son other children Grace grace be with you Edinb Sept. 5. 1636. Your in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knockbrex 213. My dearest Brother I See Christ thinketh shame if I may speak so to be in such a poor man's common as mine I burden no man I want nothing no face hath gloomed upon me since I left you God's son fair weather conveyeth me to my time Paradise in Aberdeen Christ hath so handsomely fitted for my shoulders this â—â—ugh â—â—ee of the cross as that it hurteth me no wayes My treasure is up in Christ's â—â—ffers my comforts are greater then ye can beleeve my per shall ye for pâ—â—ury of words to write of them God knoweth I am filled with the joy of the Holy Ghost Onely the memory of you my dearest in the Lord my flock others keepeth me under from being exalted above measure Christ's sweet saâ—… hath this sowre mixed with it but O such a sweet pleasant taste I finde small hopes of Qs matter Thus in haste Remember me to your wife to William Gordon Grace be with you Edinb Sept. 5. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus R. S. To my Lord LOWDOUN 214 Right honourable my very worthy Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Hearing of your Lo zeal courage for Christ our Lord in owning his honourable cause I am bold I plead pardon sor it to speak in paper by a line or two to your Lo since I have not access any other way beseeching your Lo by the mercies of God by the everlasting peace of your soul by the tears prayers of our mother-Church to goe on as ye have worthily begun in purging of the Lord's house in this land plucking down the sticks of Antichrist's filthy nest this wretched Prelacy that black Kingdom whose wicked aims have ever been still are to make this fat world the onely Compass they would have Christ and Religion to sail by and to mount up the man of sin their god-father the Pope of Rome upon the highest stair of Christ's throne and to make a velvet-Church in regard of Parliament-grandour wordly pomp whereof alwayes their stinking breath smelleth to put Christ truth in sack-cloth prison to eat the bread of adversitie and drink the water of affliction Half an eye of any not misted with the darkness of Antichristian smoke may see it thus in this land now our Lord hath begun to awaken the Nobles others to plead for born-down Christ his weeping Gospel My dear noble Lord the eye of Christ is upon you the eyes
of many noble many holy many learned worthy ones in our neighbour Churches about are upon you This poor Church your mother Christ's spouse is holding up her hands heart to God for you and doeth beseech you with tears to plead for her husband his Kingly Scepter for the liberties that her Lord King hath given to her as to a free Kingdom that oweth spiritual tribute to none on earth as being the free-born Princess daughter to the King of Kings This is a Cause that before God his Angels the World before Sun Moon needeth not to blush O what glory true honour is it to lend Christ your hand service to be amongst the repairers of the breaches of Sion's walls to help to â—uild the old waste places and stretch forth the curtains strengthen the stakes of Christ's tent in this land O blessed are they who when Christ is driven away will bring him back again lend him lodging And blessed are ye of the Lord your name honour shall never rot or wither in heaven at least if ye deliver the Lord's sheep that have been scattered in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of strange Lords hirelings who with rigour cruelty have caused them to eat the pastures troden upon with their foul feet to drink muddy water who have spun out such a world of yards of â—ndifferencies in God's Worship to make weave a web for the Antichrist that shall not keep any from the cold as they minde nothing else but that by the bringing in of the Pope's foul tail first upon us their wretched and beggerly Ceremonies they may thrust in after them the Antichrist's legs thighs his belly head shoulders then cry down Christ the Gospel up the merchandise wares of the great whore Fear not my worthy Lord to give your self all ye have out for Christ his Gospel No man dare say who ever did thus hazard for Christ that Christ payed him not his hundred fold in this life duely in the life to come life everlasting This is his own truth ye now plead for for God and man cannot but commend you to beg justice from a just Prince for oppressed Christ to plead that Christ who is the King's Lord may be heard in a free court to speak for himself when the standing established laws of our nation can strongly plead for Christ's crown in the pulpits his chair as Law-giver in the free Government of his own house But Christ shall never be content pleased with this land neither shall his hot fiery indignation be turned away so long as the Prelate the man that lâ—y in Antichrist's foul womb the Antichrist's Lord Bailiffe shall sit Lord-carver in the Lord Jesus his courts The Prelate is both the egge the nest to cleck bring forth Popery Plead therefore in Christ's behalf for the plucking down of the nest crushing of the egge let Christ's Kingly Office suffer no more unworthy indignities Be valiant for your royal King Jesus contend for him your adversaries shall be moth-eaten worms and shall die as men Christ and his honour now lieth upon your shoulders let him not fall to the ground Cast your eye upon him who is quickly coming to decide all the controversies in Zion remember the sand in your night-glass will run out Time with wings will flye away Eternity is hard upon you what will Christ's love-smiles the light of his lovely soul delighting countenance be to you in that day when God shall take up in his right hand this little lodge of heaven like as a shepherd lifteth up his little tent sold together the two leaves of his tent put the earth all the plenishing of it into a fire turn this clay-Idol the god of Adam's sons in to smoke white ashes O what hire how many worlds would many then give to have a favourable decreet of the Judge Or what moneyes would they not give to buy a mountain to be a grave above both soul body to hide them from the awsom looks of an angry Lord Judge I hope your Lo thinketh upon this that ye minde loyalty to Christ to the King both Now the very God of peace the onely wise God establish strengthen you upon the rock laid in Zion Aberd. Jan. 4. 1638. Your Lo at all obedience in Christ S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 2â—5 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian brother I thought good to write a line unto you intreating you in the Lord Jesus under your trials to keep an ear open to Christ who can speak for himself howbeit your visitations and your own sense should dream hard things of his love and favour Our Lord never getteth so kinde a look of us nor our love in such a degree nor our faith in such a measure of stedfastness as he getteth out of the furnace of our tempting fears sharp trials I verily beleeve too sad proofs in me say no less that if our Lord would grind our whorish lust in powder the very old ashes of our corruption should take life again and live and hold us under so much bondage that may humble us make us sad till we be in that countrey where we shall need no Physick at all O what violent means doth our Lord use to gain us to him as if indeed we were a prize worthy his fighting for And be sure if leading would doe the turn he would not use pulling of hair and drawing But the best of us will bide a strong pull of our Lord 's right arm ere we follow him Yet I say not this as if our Lord alwayes measured afflictions by so many ounce weights answerable to the grain weights of our guiltiness I know he doeth in many and possibly in you seek nothing so much as faith that can endure summer and winter in their extremity O how precious to the Lord is faith and love that when threshed beaten and chased away and boasted as it were by God himself doeth yet look warm-like love-like kindlike and life-like home-over to Christ would be in at him ill well as it may be Think not much that your husband or the dearest to you in the world proveth to have the bowels mercy of the Ostrich hard rigourous cruel For Psal. 27. 10. The Lord taketh up such fallen ones as these I could not wish a more sweet life nor more satisfying expressions of kindness till I be up at that Prince of kindness then the Lord's saints finde when the Lord taketh up mens refuse lodgeth this world's out-lawes whom no man seeketh after His breath is never so hot his love casteth never such a flame as when this world and these who should be the helpers of our
ye finde Christ on your side of it 7. Ye hold that Christ must either have hearty service or no service at all If ye mean he will not half a heart or have fained service such as the hypocrites give him I grant you that Christ must have honesty or nothing But if ye mean he will have no service at all where the heart draweth aback in any measure I would not that were true for my part of heaven and all that I am worth in the world If ye minde to walk to heaven without a cramp or a crook I fear ye must goe your alone He knoweth our dross defects sweet Jesus pitieth us when weakness deadness in our obedience is our cross not our darling 8. The liar as ye write challengeth the work as formal yet ye bless your cautioner for the ground-work he hath laid dare not say but ye have assurance in some measure To this I say 1. It shall be no fault to saye Satan's labour challenge it your self or at least examine censure but beware of Satan's ends in challenging for he mindeth to put Christ you at oddes 2. Welcome home faith in Jesus who washeth still when we have defiled our souls and made our selves loathsom seek still the blood of atonement to faults little or meekle Know the gate to the well lie about it 3. Make meekle of assurance for it keepeth your anchor fixed 9. Out-breakings ye say discourage you so that ye know not if ever ye shall win again to such overjoying consolations of the Spirit in this life as formerly ye had therefore a question may be If after assurance mortification the children of God be ordinarly fed with sense joy I answer I see no inconvenience to think it 's enough in a race to see the gold at the starting place howbeit the runners never get a view of it till they come to the rink's end that our wise Lord thinketh it fittest we should not alwayes be singering playing with Christ's apples Our Welbeloved I know will sport play with his Bride as much as he thinketh will allure her to the rink's end Yet I judge it not unlawfull to seek renewed consolations providing first the heart be submissive content to leave the measure tâ—…ing of them to him 2. providing they be sought to excite us to praise strengthen our assurance and sharpen our desires after himself 3. Let them be sought not for our humors or swelling of nature but as the earnest of heaven I think many doe attain to greater consolations after mortification then ever they had formerly But I know our Lord walketh here still by a soveraign latitude keepeth not the same way as to one hair-breadth without a miss towards all his children As for the Lord's people with you I am not the man fit to speak to them I rejoyce exceedingly that Christ is engaging souls amongst you But I know in conversion all the winning is in the first buying as we use to say for many lay false bastard foundations take up conversion at their foot get Christ for as good as half nothing and had never a sick night for sin this maketh loosework I pray you dig deep Christ's Palace-work his nâ—w dwelling laid upon hell felt feared is most firm And heaven grounded laid upon such a hell is surest work will not wash away with winter-storms It were good that Professours were not like young heirs that come to their rich estate long ere they come to their wit and so is seen on it the taverne the cards and the harlots steal their ridges from them ere ever they be aware what they are doing I know a Christ bought with strokes is sweetest 2. I recommend to you conference Prayer at Private Meetings for warrand whereof see Isa. 2 3. Ier. 50 4 5. Hos. 2 1 2. Ezech. 8 20 21 22 23. Mal. 3 16. Luk. 24 13 14 15 16 17. Ioh. 20 19. Act. 12. 12. Col. 3 16. 4. 6. Eph. 4 29. 1 Pet. 4 10. 1 Thess. 5 14. Heb. 3 13 10 25. Many coals make a good fire this is a part of the communion of saints I must intreat you your Christian acquaintances in the Parish to remember me to God in your prayers my flock ministry my transportation removal from this place which I fear at this assembly And be earnest with God for our mother Kirk For want of time I have put you all in one letter The rich grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Anwoth August 5. 1639. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 3 MISTRESS MY love in Christ remembred to you I was indeed sorrowfull at my departure from you especially since ye were in such heaviness after your daughters death yet I doe perswade my self ye know that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ that is laid upon you lieth upon your strong Saviour for Isaiah saith 62. 9. In all your afflictions â—e is afflicted O blessed second who suffereth with you glad may your soul be even to walk in the fiery furnace with one like unto the Son of man who is also the Son of God Courage up your heart when ye doe tire he will bear both you your burden Psal. â—5 22. Yet a little while ye shall see the salvation of God Remember of what age your daughter was as long was your lease of her if she was 18 19 or 20 years old I know not sure I am seeing her terme was come your lease run out ye can no more justly quarrel your great Superior for taking his own at his just terme-day then a poor farmer can complain that his Master taketh a portion of his own land to himself when his lease is expired Good Mistress if ye would not be content that Christ would hold from you the heavenly inheritance which is made yours by his death shall not that same Christ think hardly of you if ye refuse to give him your daughter willingly who is a part of his inheritance conquest I pray the Lord to give you all your own to grace you with patience to give God his also he is an ill debter who payeth that which he hath borrowed with a grudge indeed that long loan of such a good daughter an heir of grace a member of Christ as I beleeve deserveth more thanks at your Creditor's hand then that ye should gloom murmure when he craveth but his own I beleeve ye would judge them to be but thankless neighbours who would pay you a summe of money after this manner But what doe ye think her lost when she is but sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty think her not absent who is in such a friend's house Is she lost to you who is found to Christ If she were with a dear
friend although ye should never see her again your care for her would be but small Oh now is she not with a dear friend gone higher upon a certain hope that ye shall in the Resurrection see her again when be ye sure she shall neither be hectick nor consumed in body Ye would be sorry either to be or to be esteeemed an Atheist yet not I but the Apostle 1 Thess. 4â— 13. thinketh these to be hopeless Atheists who mourn excessively for the dead but this is not a challenge on my part I doe speak this onely fearing your weakness for your daughter was a part of yourself therefore nature in you being as it were cut halved will indeed be grieved but ye have to rejoyce that when a part of you is on earth a great part of you is glorified in heaven Follow her but envy her not for indeed it is self-love in us that maketh us mourn for them that die in the Lord Why because for them we cannot mourn since they are never happy till they be dead therefore we mourn for our own private respect take heed then that in shewing your affection in mourning for your daughter ye be not out of self-affection mourning for your self Consider what the Lord is doing in it your daughter is plucked out of the fire she resteth from her labours your Lord in that is trying you casting you in the fire Goe through all fires to your rest now remember that the eye of God is upon you beholding your patience faith he delighteth to see you in the burning bush not consumed he is gladly content that such a weak woman as ye should send Satan away frustrate of his design Now honour God shame the strong roaring lion when ye seem weakest Should such a one as ye faint in the day of adversity Call to minde the dayes of old the Lord yet liveth trust in him although he should stay you faith iâ— exceeding charitable beleeveth no evil of God Now is the Lord laying in the one scale of the ballance your making conscience of submission to his gracious will in the other your affection love to your daughter which of the two will ye then chuse to satisfie Be wise then as I trust ye love Christ better then a sinfull woman pass by your daughter kiss the Lord's rod. Men doe lop the branches off their trees round about to the end they may grow up high tall The Lord hath this way lopped your branch in taking from you many children to the end ye should grow upward like one of the Lord's cedars setting your heart above where Christ is at the right hand of the father what is next but that your Lord cut down the stock after he hath cutted the branches Prepare your self ye are nearer your daughter this day then ye were yesterday while ye prodigally spend time in mourning for her ye are speedily posting after her Run your race with patieÌ„ce let God have his own ask of him in stead of your daughter which he hath taken from you the daughter of faith which is Patience in patience possess your soul. Lift up your head ye doe not know how near your redemption doeth draw Thus recommending you to the Lord who is able to establish you â—â—â—st Anwoth April 23. 1628. Your loving affects not fâ—… in the Lord Iesus S. R. To the elect noble Lady my Lady Kenmure 4 MADAM SAluting your La with grace mercy from God our father from om Lord Jesus Christ I was sorry at my departure leaving your La in grief would still be gâ—…d at it if I were not assured that ye have one with you in the â—urnace 〈◊〉 visage is like unto the Son of God I am glad that ye have been acquainted from your youth with the wrestlings of God that ye getscarce liberty to swallow down your spittle being casten from furnace to furnace knowing if ye were not dear to God and if your health did not require so much of him he would not spend so much Physick upon you All the brethren sisters of Christ must be conform to his image copy in suffering Rom 8 And some doe more vively resemble the copy then others Think Madam that it is a part of your glory to be enrolled among these whom one of the Elders Rev. 7 14. pointeth out to Iohn thâ—se are they which came out of great tribulation have washed their robes made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Behold your forerunner going out of the world all in a lake of blood it is not ill to die as he did Fulfill with joy the remnant of the grounds remainders of the afflictions of Christ in your body Ye have lost a childe Nay She is not lost to you who is found to Christ she is not sent away but onely sent before like unto a star which going out of our sight doeth not die evanish but shineth in another hemisphere ye see her not yet she doeth shine in another countrey If her glass was but a short hour what she wanteth of time that she hath gotten of eternity ye have to rejoyce that ye have now some plenishing up in heaven Build your nest upon no tree here for ye see God hath sold the forrest to death and every tree whereupon we would rest is ready to be cut down to the end we may flee mount up build upon the rock dwell in the holes of the rock What ye love besides Jesus your husband is an adulterous lover Now it is God's special blessing to Iudah that he will not let her finde her paths in following her strange lovers Hos. 2 6. Therefore behold I will hedge up her way with thorns make a wall that she shall not finde her paths v. 7. And she shall follow after her lovers but she shall not overtakè them O thrice happy Iudah when God buildeth a double stone-wall betwixt her the fire of hell The World the things of the World Madam is the lover ye naturally affect beside your own husband Christ The hedge of thorns the wall which God buildeth in your way to hinder you from this lover is the thorny hedge of daily grief loss of children weakness of body iniquity of the time uncertainty of estate lack of worldly comfort fear of God's anger for old unrepented of sins What lose ye if God twist â—let the hedge daily thicker God be blessed the Lord will not let you finde your paths Return to your first husband Doe not weary neither think that Death walketh towards you with a slow pace ye must be riper ere ye be shaken your daves are no longer then Iob's that were swifter then a post passed away as the ships of desire as the Eagle that hasteth for the prey Iob. 9 25 26. There is less sand in
against the stroke of death Now in the strength of Jesus dispatch your business that debt is not forgiven but fristed Death hath not bidden you fare-well but hath onely left you for a short season End your journey ere the night come upon you have all in readiness against the time that ye must sail through that black impetuous Iordan Jesus Jesus who knoweth both these depths the rocks all the coasts be your Pilot That last tide will not wait for you one moment if ye forget any thing when your sea is full your foot in that ship there is no returning again to fetch it What ye doe amiss in your life to day ye may amend it to morrow for as many suns as God maketh to arise upon you ye have as many new lives but ye can die but once if ye mar or spill that business ye cannot come back to mend that piece of work again No man sinneth twice in dying ill As we die but once so we die but ill or well once Ye see now the number of your moneths is written in God's book as one of the Lord's hirelings ye must work till the shadow of the evening come upon you ye shall run out your glass even to the last pickle of sand fulfill your course with joy for we take nothing to the grave with us but a good or evil conscience And although the skie clear after this storm yet clouds will engender another Ye contracted with Christ I hope when first ye began to follow him that ye would bear his cross fulfill your part of the Contract with patience break not to Jesus Christ Be honest Brother in your bargaining with him for who knoweth better how to bring up children then our God For to lay aside his knowledge of the which there is no searching out he hath been practised in bringing up his heirs these 5000 years his bairns are all well brought up many of them are honest men now at home up in their own house in heaven are entred heirs to their father's inheritance Now the form of his bringing up was by chastisements scourging correcting nurturing See if he maketh exception of any of his bairns Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 7 8. No His eldest Son his heir Iesus is not excepted Heb. 2. 10. Suffer we must ere we were born God dcreed it it is easier to complain of his decree then to change it It is true terrors of conscience cast us down yet without terrors of conscience we cannot be raised up again fears doubtings shake us yet without fears doubtings we would soon sleep and loose our grips of Christ tribulation tentations will almost loose us at the root yet without tribulations temptations we can now no more grow then herbs or corn without rain Sin Satan the World will say cry in our ear that we have a hard reckoning to make in Judgement yet none of these three except they lye dare say in our face that our sin can change the Tenour of the new Covenant Forward then dear Brother lose not your grip hold fast the Truth for the world sell not one dram weight of God's truth especially now wheÌ„ most meÌ„ measure Truth by time like young sea-men setting their Compass by a cloud For now Time is father mother to Truth in the thoughts practices of our evil Time The God of Truth establish us for Alas Now there are none to comfort the prisoners of hope the mourners in Zion We can doe little except pray mourn for Iosepâ— in the stocks And let their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth who forget Ierusalem now in her day And the Lord remember Edom render to him as he hath done to us Now Brother I will not weary you but I intreat you remember my dearest love to Mr David Dickson with whom I have small acquaintance yet I bless the Lord I know he both prayeth doeth for our dying Kirk Remember my dearest love to Iohn Stuart whom I love in Christ show him from me I doe alwayes remember him hope for a meeting The Lord Jesus establish him more more though he be already a strong man in Christ. Remember my heartiest affection in Christ to â—illiam Rodger whom I also remember to â—od I wish the first newes I hear of him you all that love our common Saviour in these bounds may be that ye are so knit linked kindly fastened in love with the Son of God that ye may say now if we would never so fain escape out of Christ's hands yet love hath so bound us that we cannot get our â—ands fâ—ce again he hath so ravished our hearts that there is no loosing of his grips the chains of his soul-ravishing love are so sâ—rong that the Crave nor Death will not bâ—â—â—k them I hope Brother yea I doubt not of it but ye lay me my first entry to the Lord's vineyard my flock before him who hath put me in his work as the Lord knoweth since first I saw you I have been mindfull of you Marion Mcknaught doeth remember most heartily her love to you to Iohn Stuart Blessed be the Lord that in God's mercy I found in this countrey such a woman to whom Jesus is dearer then her own heart when there be so many that cast Christ over their shoulder Good Brother call to minde the memory of your worthy father now asleep in Christ as his custom was pray continually wrestle for the life of a dying breathless Kirk And desire Iohn Stuart not to forget poor Zion she hath â—ew friends few to speak one good word for her Now I commend you your whole soul body spirit to Jesus Christ his keeping hoping ye will die live stand fall with the cause of our Master Jesus The Lord Jesus himself be with your spirit Anwoth Feb. 2. 1637. Your loving Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 7 MADAM I Have longed exceedingly to hear of your life health growth in the grace of God I lacked the opportunity of a bearer in respect I did not understand of the hasty departure of the last by whom I might have saluted your La therefore I could not write before this time I intreat you Madam let me have two lines from you concerning your present condition I know ye are in grief heaviness if it were not so ye might be afraid because then your way should not be so like the way that our Lord saith leadeth to the new Ierusalem Sure I am if ye knew what were before you or if ye saw but some glances of it ye would with gladness swim through the present floods of sorrow spreading forth your arms out of desire to be at land If God have given you the earnest of the Spirit as
that death to drown in such a well Your grief taketh liberty to work upon your minde when ye are not busied in the meditation of the eveedelighting all-blessed Godhead If ye would lay the price ye give out which is but some few years pain trouble beside the commodities ye are to receive ye would see they are not worthy to be laid in the ballance together but it is Nature that maketh you look what ye give out weakness of Faith that hindereth you to see what ye shall take in Amend your hope frist your faithfull Lord a while he maketh himself your debter in the new Covenant he is honest take his word Naâ—um 1. 9. Affliction â—hail not sprâ—…g up the second time Rev. 21. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things Of all thing then which ye want in this life Madam I am able to say nothing if that be not beleeved which ye have Rev. 2 7. Rev. 3. 5. the overcomer shall be clothed in white raiment c. ver 8. 〈…〉 the overcomer I will give to sit â—ite me 〈◊〉 my throne 〈◊〉 I overcame am set down with my father in his throne Consider Madam if ye are not high up now far ben in the palace of our Lord when ye are upon a throne in white raiment at lovely Christ's elbow O th ice fools are we who like new born Princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a Kingdom before them Then let our Lord 's sweet hand square us and hammer us strike off the knots of pride self-self-love world-worship infidelity that he may make us stones and pillars in his father's house Rev. 3 12. Madam what think ye to take binding with the fair corner-stone Iesus The Lord give you wisdom to beleeve hope your day is coming I hope to be a witness of your joy as I have been a hearer beholder of your grief Think ye much to follow the heir of the crown who had experience of sorrows was acquainted with grief Isa 53. It were pride to aime to be above the King's son It is more then we deserve that we are equals in glory in a manner Now commending you to the dearest grace mercy of God I rest Anwoth Jan. 4. 1632. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 11 MADAM UNderstanding a little after the writing of my last letter of the going of this bearer I would not omit the oppornity of remembring your La still harping upon that string which in our whole life-time is never too often touched upon nor is our lesson well enough learned that there is a necessity of advancing in the way to the Kingdom of God of the contempt of the world of denying our self bearing of our Lord's cross which is no less needfull for us then daily food among many marks that we are on this journey under sail toward heaven this is one when the love of God so filleth our hearts that we forget to love care too much for the having or wanting of other things as one extreme heat burneth out another By this Madam ye know ye have betrothed your soul in marriage to Christ when ye doe make but small reckoning of all other suiters or wooers when ye can having little in hand but much in hope live as a young heir during the time of his non-age Minority being content to be as hardly handled under as precise a reckoning as servants because his hope is upon the inheritance For this cause God's bairns take well with spoiling of their goods Heb. 10. 34. knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better an enduring substance That day that the earth the works therein shall be burnt with fire 2 Pet. 3. 10. your hidden hope your hidden life shall appear therefore since ye have not now many years to your endless eternity know not how soon the skie above your head will rive the Son of man will be seen in the clouds of heaven what better wiser course can ye take then to think that your one foot is here your other foot in the life so come to leave off loving desiring or grieving for the wants that shall be made up when your Lord ye shall meet when ye shall give in your bill that day of all your wants here If your losses be not made up ye have place to challenge the Almighty but it shall not be so Ye shall then rejoyce with joy unspeakable full of glory your joy shall none take from you Ioh. 16 22. It is enough that the Lord hath promised you great things onely let the time of bestowing them be in his own carving It is not for us to set an houâ—-glass to the creator of time since he we differ onely in the tâ—…e of payment Since he hath promised payment we beleeve it it is no great matter we will put that in his own will as the frank buyer who cometh near to what the seller seeketh useth at last to refer the difference to his will so cutteth off the course of mutuall prigging Madam doe not prigge wish your frank-hearted gracious Lord about the time of the fulfilling of your joyes it will be God hath said it bide his harvest wait on upon his Whitsorday His day is better then your day he putteth not the hook in the corn till it be ripe full-eared The great Angel of the covenant bear you company till the trumpet shall sound the voice of the Archangel awaken the dead Ye shall finde it your onely happiness under whatever thing disturbeth â—â—â—sseth the peace of your minde in this life to love nothing for it self but onely God for himself It is the crcoked love of some harlots that they love bracelets ear-rings rings better then the lover that sendeth them God will not be so loved for that were to behave as harlots not as the chaste Spouse to abate from our love wheÌ„ these things are pulled away Cur love to him should begin on earth as it shall be in heaven for the Bride taketh not by a thousand degrees so much delight in her wedding garment as she doeth in her Bridegroom so we in the life to come howbeit clothed with glory as with a robe shall not be so much affected with the glory that goeth about us as with the Bridegroom 's joyfull face presence Madam if ye can win to the here the field is won your minde for anything ye want or for any thing your Lord can take from you shall soon be calmed quieted Get himself as a pawne keep him till your dear Lord come loose the pawne â—ue upon you give you all again that he took from you even a thousand talents for oâ—e penny It is not ill to lend God willingly who otherwise both will may
his face with joy my prayer to our Lord is that ye may be sick of love for him who died of love for you I mean your Saviour Jesus And O sweet were that sickness to be soul-sick for him And a living death it were to die in the fire of the love of that soul-lover Iesus And Madam if ye love him ye will keep his commandements this is not one of the least to lay your neck cheerfully willingly under the yoke of Jesus Christ For I trust your La did first contract and bargain with the Son of God to follow him upon these terms that by his grace ye should endure hardship suffer affliction as the souldier of Christ They are not worthy of Jesus who will not take a blow for their Master's sake For our glorious peace-maker when he came to make up the friendship betwixt God us God bruised him strooke him the sinfull world also did beat him and crucifie him yet he took buffets of both the parties and honour to our Lord Jesus he would not leave the field for all that till he had made peace betwixt the parties I perswade â—y self your sufferings are but like your Saviour's yea incomparably less lighter which are called but a bruising of his â—eel Gen. 3. 15 a wound far from the heart Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. And therefore ye cannot be robbed of it Our Lord handleth us as fathers doe their young children they lay up jewels in a place above the reach of the short arm of bairns else â—aiâ—ns would put up their hands take them down lose them soon So hath our Lord done with our spiritual life Jesus Christ is the high coffer in the which our Lord hath hid our life we children are not able to reach up our arm so high as to take down that life lose it it is in our Christ's hand O long long may Jesus be Lord-keeper of our life happy are they that can with the Apostle 2 Tim. 1. lay their soul in pawne in the hand of Jesus for he is able to keep that which is committed in pawne to him against that day Then Madam so long as this life is not hurt all ether troubles are but touches in the heel I trust ye will soon be cured Ye know Madam Kings have some servants in their court that receive not present wages in their hand but live upon their hopes The King of Kings also hath servants in his court that for the present get little or nothing but the heavie cross of Christ troubles without terrours within but they live upon hope when it cometh to the parting of the inheritance they remain in the house as heirs It is better to be so then to get present payment a portion in this life an inheritance in this world God forgive me that I should honour it with the name of an inheritance it is rather a farme-room then in the end to be casten out of God's house with this word Ye have received your consolation ye will get no more Alas What get they The rich glutton's heaven Oh but our Lord Luk. 16. maketh it a sillie heaven He fared well saith our Lord delicately every day Oh no more A sillie heaven Truly no more except that he was clothed in purple that is all I perswade my self Madam ye have joy when ye think that your Lord hath dealt more graciously with your soul. Ye have gotten little in this life It is true indeed Ye have then the more to crave yea ye have all to crave For except some tastings of the first fruits some kisses of his mouth whom your soul loveth ye get no more But I cannot tell you what is to come yet I may speak as our Lord doeth of it The foundation of the city is pure gold clear as crystall the twelve ports are set with precious stones If orchards rivers commend a soil upon earth there is a Paradise there wherein groweth the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth which is seven score four harvests in the year there is there a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God of the Lamb the city hath no need of the light of the sun or moon or of a candle for the Lord God Almighty the Lamb is the light thereof Madam beleeve and hope for this till ye see enjoy Jesus is saying in the Gospel Come see he is come down in the chariot of Truth wherein he rideth through the world to conquer mens souls Psal. 45. 4. is now in the word saying Who will goe with me will ye goe my Father will make you welcome give you house-room for in my Father's house are many dwelling places Madam consent to goe with him Thus I rest commending you to God's dearest mercy Anwoth Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 16. MADAM I Am afraid now as many others are that at the sitting down of our Parliament our Lord Jesus his Spouse shall be roughly handled And it must be so since false deelining Scotland whom our Lord took off the dunghill out of hell made a fair Bride to himself hath broken her faith to her sweet husband hath put on the forehead of a whore therefore he saith he will remove would God we could stir up our selves to lay hold upon him who being highly provoked with the handling he hath met with is ready to depart Alas we doe not importune him by prayer supplication to abide amongst usâ— If we could but weâ—p upon â—â—m in the holy pertinacy of faith wrestle witâ—… say We will not let thee goe it may be that then he who is easy to be intreated would yet notwithstanding of our high provocations condescend to stay feed among the lilies till that fair desirable day break and the shadows flâ—e away Ah! What cause of mourning is there When our gold is become dim the visage of our Nazarites sometimes whiter then snow is now become blacker then a coal Levi's house once comparable to fine gold is now changed become like vessels in whom he hath no pleasure Madam think upon this that when our Lord who hath his handkerchief to wipe the face of the mourners in Zion shall come to wipe away all tears froÌ„ their eyes he may wipe yours also in the passing amongst others I am confident Madam that our Lord will yet build a new house to himself of our rejected and scattered stones for our bridegroom cannot want a wife Can he live a widow Nay he will embrace both Us the little young sister the elder sister The church of the Iews there will yet be a day of it therefore we have cause to rejoyce yea to sing shout for joy The Church hath been â—nce
your La to grow as a palm-tree on God's mount Zion howbeit shaken with winds yet the root is fast This is all I can doe to recommend your case to your Lord who hath you written upon the palms of his hand if I were able to doe more your La may beleeve me that gladly I would I trust shortly to see your La Now he who hath called you confirm stablish your heart in grace unto the day of the liberty of the sons of God Ardwell April 29. 1634. Your La at all submissive obedience in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 20 My very Noble worthy Lady SO oft as I call to minde the comforts that I my self a poor friendless stranger received from your La here in a strange part of the countrey when my Lord took from me the delight of mine eyes as the word speaketh Ezek. 24. 16. which wound is not yet fully healed cured I trust your Lord shall remember that give you comfort now at such a time as this wherein your dearest Lord hath made you a widow that ye may be a free Woman for Christ who is now suteing for marriage-marriage-love of you therefore since you lie alone in your bed let Christ be as a bundle of myrrhe to sleep lie all the night betwixt your breasts Cant. 1 13. then your bed is better filled then before And seeing amongst all crosses spoken of in our Lord's word this giveth you a particular right to make God your husband which was not so yours while your husband was alive read God's mercy out of this visitation And albeit I must out of some experience say the mourning for the husband of your youth be by God's own mouth the heaviest wordly sorrow Ioel 1. 8. though this be the weightiest burden that ever lay upon your back Yet ye know when the fields are eâ—ptied your husband now asleep in the Lord if ye shall wait upon him who hideth his face for a while that it lieth upon God's honour truth to ful the field to be a husband to the widow See consider then what ye have lost how little it is Therefore Madam let me intreat you in the bowels of Christ Jesus by the comforts of his Spirit your appearance before him let God men Angels now see what is in you The Lord hath pâ—irced the vessel it will be known whether there be in it wine or water let your faith patience be seen that it may be known your onely beloved first and last hath been Christ And therefore now were your whole love upon him he alone is a sutable object for your love and all the affections of your soul God hath dried up one channel of your love by the removal of your husband let now that speat run upon Christ. Your Lord lover hath graciously taken out your husband's name your name out of the summonds that are raised at the instance of the terrible sin-revenging Judge of the world against the house of the Kenmure And I dare say that God's hammering of you from your youth is onely to make you a fair carved stone in the high upper temple of the new Ierusalem Your Lord never thought this world 's vain painted glory a gift worthy of you therefore would not bestow it on you because he is to propine you with a better portion Let the moveables goe the inheritance is yours Ye are a childe of the house joy is laid up for you it is long in coming but not the worse for that I am now expecting to see that with joy comfort that which I hoped of you since I knew you fully even that ye have laid such strength upon the Holy One of Israel that yed â—sie troubles that your soul is a castle that may be beâ—â—â—ged but cannot be taken What have ye to doe here This would never looked like a friend upon you ye ow it little love it looked ever sowre-like upon you Howbeit ye should wooe it it will not match with you therefore never seek warm fire under cold ice This is not a field where your happiness groweth it is up above where Rev. 7. 9. there are a great multitude which no man can number of all nations Kindreds people tongues standing before the throne before the Lamb clothed with wâ—â—te robes palms in their hands What ye could never get here ye shall finde there And withall consider how in all these trials truly they have been many your Lord hath been loosing you at the root from perishing things hunting after you to grip your soul Madam for the Son of God's sake let him not miss his grip but stay abide in the love of God as Iude saith ver 21 Now Madam I hope your La will take these lines in good part wherein I have fallen short failed to your La in not evidencing what I was obliged to your more then undeserved love respect I request for a full pardon for it Again my dear noble Lady let me beseech you to list up your head for the day of your redemption draweth near And remember that star that shined in Galloway is now shining in another world Now I pray that God may answer his own stile to your soul that he may be to you the God of all consolations Thus I remain Anwoth Sept. 14. 1634. Your La at all dutifull obedience in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 21 MADAM ALl dutifull obedience in our Lord remembered I know ye are now near one of these strairs in which ye have been before But because your outward comforts are fewer I pray him whose ye are to supply what ye want an other way for howbeit we cannot win to the bottom of his wise Providence who ruleth all yet it is certain this is not onely good which the Almighty hath done but it is best he hath reckoned all your steps to heaven if your La were through this water there are the fewer behinde if this were the last I hope your La hath learned by on-waiting to make your acquaintance with Death which being to the Lord the woman's seed Iesus onely a bloody heel not a broken head Gen. 3 15. cannot be ill to his friends who get fâ—r less of Death then himself Therefore Madam seeing ye know not but the journey is ended ye are come to the water-side in God's wisdom look all your papers your counts whether ye be ready to receive the Kingdom of heaven as a little childe in whom there is little haughtiness much humility I would be far from discouraging your La but there is an absolute necessity that near eternity we look ere we leap seeing no man winneth back again to mend his leap I am confident your La thinketh often upon it that your old guide shall goe before you take
your hands His love to you will not grow sowre nor wear out of date as the love of men which groweth old gray haired often before themselves Ye have so much the more reason to love a better life then this because this world hath been to you a cold fire with little heat to the body as little light much smoke to hurt the eyes But Madam your Lord would have you thinking it but day breasts full of wind empty of food In this late visitation that hath befallen your Laâ—e â—e have seen God's love care in such a measure that I thought our Lord brake the sharp point off the cross made us and your La see Christ take possession and infestment upon earth of him who is now reigning triumphing with the hundred forty four thousand who stand with the Lamb on mount Zion I know the sweetest of it is bitter to you but your Lord will not give you painted crosses He paireth not all the bitterness from the cross neither taketh he the sharp â—dge quite from it then it should be of your wailing not of his which should have as little reason in it as it should have profit for us Onely Madam God commandeth you now to beleeve cast anchor in the dark night climb up the mountain He who hath called you establish you confirm you to the end I had a purpose to have visited your La but when I thought better upon it the truth is I cannot see what my company could profit you this hath broken off my purpose no other thing yknow many honourable friends worthy professours will see I our La that the Son of God is with you to whose love mercy from my soul I recommend your La remain Anwoth Nov. 29. 1634. Your La at all dutifull obedience in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 22 MADAM MY humble obedience in the Lord remembered Know it hath pleased the Lord to let me see by all appearance my labours in God's house here are at an end I 〈◊〉 now learn to suffer in the which I am a dull Scholar By a strange Providence some of my papers anent the corruptions of this time are come to our King's hand I know by the wise well affected I shall be censured as not wise nor circumspect enough but it is ordinary that that should be a part of the cross of these who suffer for him Yet I love pardon the instrument I would commit my life to him howbeit by him this hath befallen me but I look higher then to him I make no question of your La love car to doe what ye can for my help am perswaded that in my adversities our La will with me well I seek no other thing but that my Lord may be honoured by me in giving a â—…ony I was wiâ—ling to doe him more service but seeing he will have no more of my labours this land will thrust me out I pray for grace to learn to be acquaint with misery iâ—â— may give so rough a name to such a mark of these who shall be crowned with Christ And howbeit I will possibly prove a faint-hearted unwise man in that yet I dare say I intend otherwise And I desire not to goe on the lee-side or sunny-side of Religion to put Truth betwixt me a storm my Saviour did not so for me who in his suffering took the windy side of the hill No further but the Son of God be with you Anwoth Dec. 5. 1634. Your La in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 23. MADAM I Received your La letter from I. G. I thank our Lord ye are as well at least as one may be who is not come home it is a mercy in this stormy sea to get a second wind for none of the saints get a first but they must take the winds as the Lord of the seas causeth them to blow the Inne as the Lord Master of the Innes hath ordered it if contentment were here heaven were not heaven Who ever seek the world to be their bed shall at best finde it short ill made a stone under their side to hold them waking rather then a soft pillow to sleep upon Ye ought to bless your Lord that it is not worse we live in a sea where many have suffered ship wrack and have need that Christ sit at the helm of the ship it is a mercy to win to heaven though with much hard toil heavy labour to take it by violence ill well as it may be better goe swimming wet through our waters then drown by the way especially now when Truth suffereth great men bid Christ sit lower contract himself in less bounds as if he took too much room I expect our new Prelate shall try my sitting I hang by a threed but it is if I may speak so of Christ's spinning there is no quarrel more honest or honourable then to suffer for truth but the worst is that this Kirk is like to sink all her lovers friends stand afar off none mourn with her none mourn for her But the Lord Jesus will not be put out of his conquest so soon in Scotland it will be seen the Kirk Truth will rise again within three dayes Christ again shall ride upon his white horse howbeit his horse seem now to stumble yet he cannot fall the fulness of Christ's harvest in the end of the earth is not yet come in I speak not this because I would have it so but upon better grounds then my naked liking but enough of this sad subject I long to be fully assured of your La welfare that your soul prospereth especially now in your solitary life when your comforts outward are few when Christ hath you for the very uptaking I know his love to you is still running over his love hath not so bad a memory as to forget you your dear childe who hath two fathers in heaven the one the Ancient of dayes I trust in his mercy he hath something laid up for him above however it may goe with him here I know it is long since your La saw this world turned your step-mother did forsake you Madam ye have reason to take in good part a lean dinner spare diet in this life seeing your large supper of the Lamb 's preparing will recompense all let it goe which was never yours but onely in sight not in property the time of your loan will wear shorter shorter time is measured to you by ounce-weights then I know your hope shall be a full ear of corn not blasted with wind it may be your joy that your anchor is up within the vail that the ground it is cast upon is not false but firm God hath done his part I hope ye will not deny to fish
fetch home all your love to himself it is but too narrow short for him if it were more if ye were before pouring all your love if it had been many gallons more in upon your Lord if drops fell by in the in-pouring he forgiveth you he hath done now all that can be done to win beyond it all hath left little to wooe your love from himself except one onely childe what is his purpose herein he knoweth best who hath taken your soul in tutouring Your faith may be boldly charitable of Christ that however matters goe the worst shall be a tired traveller a joyfull sweet welcome-home the back of your winter-night is broken Look to the East the day skie is breaking think not that Christ loseth time or lingereth unsutably O fair fair sweet morning We are but here as sea-passengers if we look right we are upon our countrey-coast our Redeemer is fast coming to take this old worm-eaten world like an old moth-eaten garment in his two hands to roll it up lay it by him These are the last dayes an oath is given Rev. 10. by God himself that Time shall be no more when Time it self is old gray-haired it were good we were away Thus Madam ye see I am as my custom is tedious in my lines your La will pardon it The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth January 18. 1636. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 24 Right honourable I Cannot finde time for writing some things I intended on Iob I have been so taken up with the broils that we are incumbered with in our calling for our Prelat will have us either to swallow our light over digest it contrary to our stomacks howbeit we should vomit our conscience all in this troublesom Conformity or then he will try if Deprivation can convert us to the Ceremonial faith I write to your La Madam not as distrusting your affection or willingnesse to help me as your La is able by your self or others but to advertise you that I hang by a small threed for our learned Prelat because we cannot see with his eyes so far in a mil-stone as his light doeth will not follow his Master meek Jesus who waiteth upon the wearied short-breathed in the way to heaven where all see not alike some are weaker he carrieth the lambs in his bosom leadeth gently these that are with young But we must either see all the evill of Ceremonies to be but as indifferent strawes or suffer no loss then to be easten our of the Lord's inheritance Madam if I had time I would write more at length but your La will pardon me till a fitter occasion Grace be with you and your childe and bear you company to your best home Anwoth June 8. 1636. Your La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Elder 25. Much honoured Sir I Have heard of the minde malice of your adversaries against you It 's like they will extend the law they have in length breadth answerable to their heat of minde but it is a great part of your glory that the cause is not yours but your Lord's whom ye serve I doubt not but Christ will count it his honour to back his weak servant it were a shame for him with reverence to his holy Name that he should suffer himself to be in the common of such a poor man as ye are that ye should give out for him not get in again Write up your depursments for your Master Christ keep the count what ye give out whether name credit goods or life suspend your reckoning till nigh the evening remember that a poor weak servant of Christ wrote it to you ye shall have Christ a King caution for your incomes all your losses Reckon not from the fore-noon Take the word of God for your warrand and for Christ's act of cautionry howbeit body life goods goe for Christ your Lord though ye should lose the head for him yet Luk 21. 18. There shall not one hair of your head perish ver 19. in patience therefore possess your soul because ye are the first man in Galloway called out questioned for the name of Jesus his eye hath been upon you as upon one whom he hath designed to be among his witnesses Christ hath said Alexander Gordon shall lead the ring in witnessing a good confession therefore he hath put the garland of suffering for himself first upoÌ„ your head think your self so much the more obliged to him fear not for he layeth his right hand on your head He who was dead is alive will plead your cause will look attentively upon the process from the beginning to the end the Spirit of glory shall rest upon you Rev. 2 10. Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some â—f you into prison that ye may be tried ye shall have tribuâ—â—tion ten dayes Be thou faithfull unto the death I will give thee the crown of life That lovely one esus who also became the Son of man that he might take strokes for you write the cross-sweetning soul-supporting sense of these words in your heart These rumbling wheels â—f Scotland's ten dayes tribulation are under his look who hath seven eyes Take a house on your head slip your self by faith in under Christ's wings till the storm be over And remember when they have drunken us down Ierusalem will be a Cup of trembling of poison Zech. 12 2. They shall be fain to vomit out the saints for Iudah v. 6. Shall be a hearth of â—ire in a sheaf they shall devour all the people round about on the right band on the â—ft Woe to Zion's enemies they have the worst or it for we have write for the victory Sir ye were never honourable till now this is your glory that Christ hath put you in the roll with himself and the rest of the witnesses who are come out of great tribulation have washen their garments made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Be not cast down for what the servants of Antichrist cast in your tâ—eth that Yeare ahead to and favourer of the Puritanes leader to thâ—â—â—â—ct if your conscience say Alas here is much din little done is the proverb is because ye have not done so much service to Christ that way as ye might should Take courage from that same temptation for â—our Lord Christ looketh â—poâ— that very challenge as an hungring desire in you to have done more then ye did that filleth up the blank he will accept of what ye have done in that kinde If great men be kinde to you I pray you overlook them if they smile on you Christ but borroweth their face to smile through them upon his afflicted
building his house all palace-work carved stones it is the habitation of the Lord We doe welcome Ireland and England to our Welbeloved we invite you O daughters of Ierusalem to come down to our Lord's garden and seek our Welbeloved with us for his love will suffice both you us we doe send love-letters over tâ—e sea to request you to come to marry our King to take part of our bed we trust our Lord is fetching a blow upon the Beast the scarlet-coloured Whore to the end he may bring in his ancient widow-wife our dear Sister the Church of the Iews O what a heavenly heaven were it to see them come in by this mean suck the breasts of their little Sister renew their old love with their first husband Christ our Lord They are booked in God's word as a Bride contracted upon Jesus O for a sight in this flesh of mine of the prophesied marriage between Christ them The Kings of Tarshish the Isles must bring presents to our Lord Jesus Psal. 72 10. And Britain is one of the chiefest Isles Why then but we may beleeve that our Kings of this Island shall come in bring their glory to the new Ierusalem wherein Christ shall dwell in the latter dayes It is our part to pray that the Kingdoms of the earth may become Christ's Now I exhort you in the Lord Jesus not to be dismaid nor afraid for the two tails of these two smoking fire-bands the fierce anger of the Deputy with his Civil Power and of the bastard Prelats with the Power of the Beast for they shall be cut off They may well eat you and drink you but they shall be forced to vomit you out again alive If two things were firmly beleeved sufferiâ—gs would have no weight If the fellowship of Christ's suffering were well known who would not gladly take part with Jesus For Christ we are halvers joynt owners of one the same cross therefore he that knew well what sufferings were as he esteemed all things but loss for Christ did judge them but dung so did he also judge of them that he might know the fellowship of his sufferings Philip. 3 10. O how sweet a sight is it to see across betwixt Christ us to hear our Redeemer say at every sigh every blow every loss of a beleever half mine So they are called the sufferings of Christ the reproach of Christ Col. 2 24. Heb. 11 26. As when two are partners owners of a ship the half of the gain half of the loss belongeth to either of the two so Christ in our sufferings is half-gainer half-loser with us Yea the heaviest end of the black tree of the cross lieth on your Lord it falleth first upon him it but reboundeth off him upon you The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me Psal. 69 9. Your sufferings are your treasure are greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Heb 11 26. And if your cross come first through Christ's fingers ere it come to you it receiveth a fair luster from him it getteth a taste a relish of the King's spikenard of heaven's perfume the half of the gain when Christ's ship full of gold cometh home shall be yours It is an augmenting of your treasure to be rich in sufferings to be in labours abundant in stripes above measure 2. Cor. 11 ver 23. to have the sufferings of Christ abounding in you 2. Cor. 1 5. is a part of heaven's stock Your goods are not lost which they have plucked from you for your Lord hath them in keeping they are but arrested seised upon he shall loose the arrest Ye shall be fed with the heritage of Iacob your father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa. 38. 14. Till I shall be in the hall-floor of the highest palace and get a a draught of glory out of Christ's hand above and beyond Time and beyond Death I will never it 's like see fairer dayes then I saw under that blessed tree of my Lord's cross His kisses then were King's kisses these kisses were sweet and soul-reviving one of them at that time was worth two and a half if I may speak so of Christ's week-dayes kisses O sweet sweet for evermore to see a rose of heaven growing in as ill ground as hell and to see Christ's love his embracements his dinners and suppers of joy peace faith goodness long-suffering and patience growing and springing like the flowers of God's garden out of such stony and cursed ground as the hatred of the Prelats and the malice of their High Commission the Antichrist's bloody hand heart Is not here art and wisdom is not here heaven indented in hell if I may say so like a jewel set with skill in a ring with the enamle of Christ's cross The rubie riches of glory that groweth up out of this cross is beyond telling Now the blackest hottest wrath most fiery all-devouring indignation of the Judge of men Angels shall come upon them that deny our sweet Lord Jesus put their hand to that oath of wickedness now pressed the Lord's coal at their heart shall burn them up both root and branch the estates of great men that have done so if they doe not repent shall consume away the ravens shall dwell in their houses their glory shall be shame O for the Lord's sake keep fast by Christ fear not man that shall die wither as the grass the Deputy's bloom shall fall the Prelats shall cast their flower the East wind of the Lord of the Lord strong mighty shall blast break them therefore fear them not they are but idols that can neither doe evil nor good Walk not in the way of these people that slander the footsteps of our royal princely anointed King Iesus now riding upon his white horse in Scotland let Iehovah be your fear That decree of Zion's deliverance passed sealed up before the throne is now ripe shall bring forth a childe even the ruine fall of the Irelats black Kingdom the Antichrist's throne in these Kingdoms the Lord hath begun he shall make an end Who did ever hâ—ar the like of this Before Scotland travelled she brought forth before her pain came she was delivered of a man-childe Isa. 66. 7. 8. And when all is done suppose there were no sweetness in our Lord's cross yet it is sweet for his sake for that lovely one Iesus Christ whose Crown and Royal Supremacy is the question this day in Great Britain betwixt us our adversaries who would not think him worthy of the suffering for what is burning quick what is drinking of our own heart-blood what iâ— a draught of melted lead for his glory less then a drink of cold water to a thirsty man if the right price
due value were put on that worthy worthy Prince Iesus O who can weigh him Ten thousand thousand heavens would not be one scale or the half of the scale of the ballance to lay him in O black Angels in comparison of him O dim dark lightless Sun in regard of that fair Sun of Righteousness O feckless worthless heaven of heavens when they stand beside my worthy lofty high excellent Welbeloved O weak infirm clay-Kings O soft feeble mountains of brass weak created strength in regard of our mighty strong Lord of armies O foolish wisdom of men Angels when it is laid in the ballance beside that spotless substantial wisdom of the Father If heaven earth ten thousand heavens even round about these heavens that now are were all in one garden of Paradise decked with all the fairest roses flowers trees that can come forth from the art of the Almighty himself yet set but our one flower that groweth out of the root Iesse beside that orchard of pleasure one look of him one view one taste one smell of his sweet Godhead would infinitely exceed goe beyond the smell colour beauty loveliness of that Paradise O to be with childe of his love to be suffocate if that could be with the smell of his sweetness were a sweet fill lovely pain O worthy worthy loveliness O less of the creatures more of thee O open the passage of the well of love glory on us dry pits withered trees O that jewel flower of heaven If our Beloved were not mistaken by us unknown to us he would have no scarcity of wooers suiters he would make heaven earth both see that they cannot quench his love for his love is a sea O to be a thousand fathoms deep in this sea of love He He Himself is more excellent then heaven for Heaven as it cometh into the souls spirits of the glorified is but a creature He is something a great something more then a Creature Oh what a life were it to sit beside this well of love drink sing sing drink then to have desires soul-faculties stretched extended out many thousand fathoms in length breadth to take in seas rivers of love I earnestly desire to recommend this love to you that this love may cause you to keep his commandments to keep clean fingers make clean feet that ye may walk as the redeemed of the Lord. Woe woe be to them that put on his name shame this love of Christ with a loose prophanelife their feet tongue hands eyes give a shameless lye to the holy Gospel which they profess I beseech you in the Lord keep Christ walk with him let not his fairness be spotted stained by godless living Oh who can finde in their heart to sin against love And such a love as the glorified in heaven shall delight to dive into drink of for ever for they are evermore drinking-in love the cup is still at their head yet without loathing for they still drink still desire to drink for ever ever is not this a long lasting supper Now if any of our countrey-people professing Christ Jesus have brought themselves under the stroke wrath of the Almighty by yeelding to Antichrist in an hair-breadth but especially by swearing subscribing that blasphemous Oath which is the Church of Ireland's black hour of temptation I would intreat them by the mercies of God at their last summonds to repent openly confess before the world to the glory of the Lord their denial of Christ Or otherwise if either man or woman will stand abide by that Oath then in the name authority of the Lord Jesus I let them see that they forfeit their part of heaven let them look for no less then a back-burden of the pure unmixed wrath of God the plague of Apostates deniers of our Lord Jesus Let not me a stranger to you who never saw your face in the flesh be thought bold in writing to you For the hope I have of a glorious Church in that land and the love of Christ constraineth me I know the worthy servants of Christ who once laboured among you cease not to write to you also I shall desire to be excused that I doe joyn with them Pray for your Sister Church in Scotland let me entreat you for the aid of your prayers for my self flock ministery my fear of a transportation from this place of of the Lord's vineyard Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout Grace be with you all Anwoth 1639. Your brother and companion in the Kingdom and patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To his reverend much honoured Brother Dr WILLIAM LIGHTON Christ's prisoner in bonds at London 28 Reverend much honoured prisoner of hope GRace mercy peace be to you It was not my part whom our Lord hath enlarged to forget you his prisoner When I consider how long your night hath been I think Christ hath a minde to put you in free grace's debt so much the deeper as your sufferings have been of so long a continuance But what if Christ minde you no joâ— but publike joy with enlarged triumphing Zion I think Sir ye would love it best to share divide your song of joy with Zion to have mystical Chriâ—â— in Eritain halfer compartner with your enlargement I am sure your joy bordering neighbouring with the joy of Christ's Bride would be so much the sweeter that it were publike I thought if Christ had halved my mercies and delivered his Bride and not me that his praises should have been double to what they are But now two rich mercies conjoyned in one have stoln from our Lord more then half-praises Oh that mercy should so beguile us and steal away our counts and acknowledgements Worthy Sir I hope I need not exhort you to goe on in hoping for the salvation of God There hath not been so much taken from your time of ease created joyes as Eternity shall adde to your heaven Ye know when one day in heaven hath paved you yea overpayed your blood bonds sorrow sufferings that it would trouble Angels understanding to lay the count of that superplus of glory which Eternity can will give you O but your sand-glass of sufferings losses cometh to little when it shall be counted and compared with the glory that bideth you on the other side of the water Ye have no leisure to rejoyce fing here while time goeth about you where your Psalms will be short therefore ye will think Eternity the long day of heaven that shall be measured with no other sun nor horologe then the long life of the Ancient of dayes to measure your praises little enough for you if your span-length
of time be cloudy ye cannot but think your Lord can no more take your blood your band without the in-come reeompence of free grace hâ—…e would take the sufferings of Paul his other dear servants that were well paid home beyond all counting Rom. 8 18. If the wisdom of Christ hath made you Antichrist's eye-sore his envy ye are to thank God that such a piece of clay as ye are is made the field of glory to work upon it was the potter's aim that the clay should praise him I hope it satisfieth you that your clay is for his glory Oh who can suffer enough for such a Lord who can lay out in bank enough of pain shame losses tortures to receive in again the free interest of eternall glory 2 Cor. 4 17. O how advantagious a bargaining is it with such a rich Lord If your hand pen had been at leisure to gain glory in paper it had been but paper-glory but the bearing of a publike cross so long for the now controverted priviledges of the crown scepter of free King Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the earth is glory booked in heaven Worthy dear Erother if ye goe to weigh Jesus his sweetness excellency glory beauty say fore-against him your ounces or drams of Suffering for him ye shall be straitned two wayes 1. It will be a pain to make the comparison the disproportion being by no understanding imaginable nay if heaven's Arithmetick Angels were set to work they should never number the degrees of difference 2. It should straiten you to finde a scale for the ballance to lay that High Lofty One that overtranscending Prince of excellency into If your minde could fancy as many created heavens as time hath had minutes trees have had leaves clouds have had rain drops since the first stone of the creation was laid they should not make half a scale to bear weight boundless excellency it to And therefore the King whose marks ye are bearing whos 's dying ye carry about with you in your body is out of all cry consideration beyond above all our thoughts For my self I am content to feed upon wondering sometimes at the beholding but of the borders skirts of the incomparable glory which is in that exalted Prince I think ye could wiâ—h for more ears to give him then ye have since ye hope these ears ye now have give him shall be passages to take in the musick of his glorious voice I would fain both beleeve pray for a new Bride of Iews Gentiles to our Lord Jesus after the land of graven images shall be laid waste that our Lord Jesus is on horse-back hunting pursuing the beast that England Ireland shall be well sweeped chambers for Christ and his righteousness to dwell in for he hath opened our graves in Scotland the two dead buried witnesses are risen again are prophesying O that Princes would glory boast themselves in carrying the train of Christ's tobe royal in their arms Let me die within an half-hour after I have seen the Son of God his temple enlarged the cords of Iâ—rusalem's tent lengthned to take in a more numerous company for a Bride to the Son of God Oh if the corner or foundation-stone of that house that new house were laid above my grave O who can adde to him who is that great ALL If he would create suns moons new heavens thousand thousand degrees more perfect then these that now are again make a new creation ten thousand thousand degrees in perfection beyond that new creation again still for eternity multiplie new heavens they should never be a perfect resemblance of that infinite excellency order weight measure beauty sweetness that is in him O how little of him doe we see O how shallow are our thoughts of him Oh if I had pâ—in for him shame losses for him more clay spirits for him that I could goe upon earth without love desire hope because Christ hath taken away my love desire hope to heaven with him I know Worthy Sir your sufferings for him are your glory therefore weary not his salvation is near hand and shall not tarry Pray for me his grace be with you St Andrewes Nov. 22. 1639. Yours in his sweet Lorâ— Iesus S R. To Mr HENRY STUART his Wife two Daughters all Prisoners of Christ at Dublin Rev. 2 10. Fear none of these things which ye shall suffer c. 29. Truly Honoured Dearly beloved GRace mercy peace be to you from God our father our Lord Jesus Christ. Think it not strange beloved in our Lord Iesus that Satan can command keyes of prisons bolts chains this is a piece of the Devil's Princedom that he hath over the world interpret understand our Lord well in this be not jealous of his love though he make devils and men his under-servants to scour the rust off your faith purge you from your dross And let me charge you O prisoners of hope to open your window to look out by faith behold heavens post that speedy swift salvation of God that is coming to you it is a broad river that faith will not look over it is a mighty a broad sea that they of a lively hope cannot behold the furthest bank other shore thereof Look over the water your anchor is fixed within the vail the one end of the cable is about the prisoner of Christ the other is entred within the vail whither the forerunner is entred for you Heb. 6 19 20. It can goe straight thorow the flames of the fire of the wrath of men devils losses tortures death and not a threed of it be either singed or burnt men and devils have no teeth to bite it in two Hold fast till he come Your cross is of the colour of heaven Christ pasmented over with the faith comforts of the Lord 's faithfull Covenant with Scotland that dy colour will abide the foul weather neither be stained nor cast the colour yea it reflects a scad like the cross of Christ whose holy hands many a day lifted up to God praying for sinners were fettered and bound as if these blessed hands had stoln shed innocent blood When your lovely lovely Jesus had no better then the thief's doom it is no wonder that your process be lawless and turned upside down for he was taken fettered buffetted whipped spitted upon before he was convicted of any fault or sentenced Oh such a pair of sufferers and witnesses as high and royal Jesus and a poor piece guilty clay marrowed together under one yoke O how lovely is the cross with such a second I beleeve that your prison is enacted in God's court not to keep you till your hope breath out it's life last Your cross is under law
to restore you again safe to your brethren sisters in Christ take heaven and Christ's back-bond for a fair back-door out of your suffering The Saviour is on his journey with salvation and deliverance for mount Zion the sword of the Lord is drunk with blood and made fat with fatness his sword is bathed in heaven against Babylon for it is the day of the Lord's vengeance and the year of recompences for the comtroversie of Zion And perswade your selves the streams of the rivers of Babylon shall be pitch and the dust of the land brimstone and burning pitch Isa. 34 8. And if your deliverance be conjoyned with the deliverance of Zion it shall be two salvations to you It were good to be armed before hand for death or bodily tortures for Christ and to think what a crown of honour it is that God hath given you pieces of living clay to be tortured witnesses for saving truth and that ye are so happy as to have some pints of blood to give out for the crown of that royal Lord who hath caused you to avouch himself before men If ye can lend fines of three thousand pound sterling for Christ let heaven's register and Christ's count-book keep in reckoning your depursments for him It shall be engraven printed in great letters upon heaven's throne what you are willing to give for him Christ's papers of that kinde cannot be lost or fall by Doe not wonder to see clay boast the great potter to see blinced men to threaten the Gospel with death burial to raze out Truth 's name but where will they make a grace for the Gospel the Lord's bride Earth hell shall be but little bounds for their burial lay all the clay rubbish of this inch of the whole earth above our Lord's spouse yet it will not cover her nor hold her down she shall live not die she shall behold the salvation of God Let your faith frist God a little be not afraid for a smoking fire-brand there is more smoke in Babylon's furnace then there is fire till dooms-day shall come they shall never see the Kirk of Scotland our Covenant burnt to ashes or if it should be thrown in tho fire yet it cannot be so burnt or buried as not to have a resurrection angry clay 's wind shall shake none of Christ's corn he will gather in all his wheat into his barn onely let your fellowship with Christ be renewed ye are sibber to Christ now when you are imprisoned for him then before for now the stroakes laid on you doe come in remembrance before our Lord he can owne his own wounds a drink of Christ's love which is better then wine is the drink-silver which Suffering for his majesty leaves behinde it it is not your sins which they persecute in you but God's grace loyalty to King Jesus they see no treason in you to your Prince the King of Britain albeit they say so but it is heaven in your that earth is fighting against Christ is owning his own cause grace is a party that fire will not burn not water drown when they have eaten drunken you their stomack shall be sick they shall spue you out alive O what glory is it to be suffering abjects for the Lord's glory royalty Nay though his servants had a body to burn for ever for this Gospel so being that triumphing exalted Jesus his high glory did rise out of these flames out of that burning body Oh what a sweet fire O what soul-refreshing torment should that be What if the pickles of dust ashes of the burnt dissolved body were musicians to sing his praises the highness of that never-enough-exalted Prince of ages O what love is it in him that he will have such musicians as we are to tune that Psalm of his everlasting praises in heaven Oh what shining burning flames of love are these that Christ will divide his share of life of heaven glory with you Luk. 22. 29. Ioh. 17 24. Rev. 3 21. A part of his throne one draught of his wine his wine of glory life that comes from under the throne of God of the Lamb one apple of the tree of life will doe more then make up all the expences charges of clay lent out for heaven Oh! Oh but we have short narrow creeping thoughts of Jesus doe but shape Christ in our conceptions according to some created portraiture O Angels lend in your help to make love-books songs of our fair white ruddy standard-bearer amongst ten thousand O heavens O heaven of heavens O glorified tennants triumphing house-holders with the Lamb put in new Psalms love-sonnets of the excellency of our bridegroom help us to set him on high O indwellers of earth heaven sea air O all ye created beings within the bosom of the outmost circle of this great world O come help to set on high the praises of our Lord O fairness of creatures blush before his uncreated beauty O created strength be amazed to stand before your strong Lord of hosts O created love think shame of thy self before this unparalleled love of heaven O angel-wisdom hide thy self before our Lord whose understanding passeth finding out O sun in thy shining beauty for shame put on a web of darkness cover thy self before thy brightest master maker O who can adde glory by doing or suffering to this never-enough-admired and praised lover Oh we can but bring our drop to this sea and our candle dim and dark as it is to this clear and lightsom sun of heaven and earth Oh but we have cause to drink ten deaths in one cup dry to swim through ten seas to be at that land of praises where we shall see that wonder of wonders enjoy this jewel of heavens jewels O death doe thy outmost against us O torments O malice of men devils waste thy-strength on the witnesses of our Lord's testament O devils bring hell to help you in tormenting the followers of the Lamb we will defie you to make us too soon happy to waft us too soon over the water to the land where the noble plant the plant of venown groweth O cruel Time that torments us suspends our dearest enjoyments that we wait for when we shall be bathed steeped soul body down in the depths of this love of loves O Time I say run fast O motions mend your pace O Welbeloved be like a young Roe upon the mountains of Separations Post post hasten our desired hungered-for meeting love is sick to hear tell of to morrow And what then can come wrong to you O honourable witnesses of his Kingly truth Men have no more of you to work upon but some few inches and span-lengths of fick coughing and flegmatick clay your spirits are above their benches courts or High
Commissions your souls your love to Christ your faith cannot be summoned not sentenced nor accused nor condemned by Pope Deputy Prelat Ruler or Tyrant your faith is a free Lord cannot be a captive all the malice of hell earth can but hurt the scabbard of a beleever death at the worst can get but a clay-pawne in keeping till your Lord make the King's keys open your graves Therefore upon luck's head as we use to say take your sill of his love and let a post way or a causey be laid betwixt your prison and heaven and goe up visit your treasure Enjoy your Beloved dwell upon his love till Eternity come in Time's room possess you of your eternal happiness Keep your love to Christ lay up your faith in heaven's keeping follow the chief of the house of the Martyrs that witnessed a fair confession before Pontius Pilate your cause and his is all one The opposers of his cause are like drunken Judges transported who in their cups would make Acts Lawes in their drunken courts that the Sun should not rise and shine on the earth and send their Officers Pursevants to charge the Sun and Moon to give no more light to the world would enact in their Court-bookes that the Sea after once ebbing should never flow again But would not the Sun Moon Sea break these Acts keeep their Creator's directions The Devil the great fool father of these under-fools is older more malicious then wise that sets the spirits in earth on work to contend clash with heaven's wisdom and to give mandats and law summonds to our Sun to our great Star of heaven Iesus not to shine in the beauty of his Gospel to the chosen and bought ones O thou fair and fairest Sun of righteousness arise and shine in thy strength whether earth and hell will or not O Victorious O Royal O stout Princely soul-conqueror ride prosperously upon truth stretch out thy Scepter as far as the Sun shines the Moon waxeth â—…aineth Put on thy glistering crown O thou maker of Kings make but one stride or one step of the whole earth travell in the greatness of thy strength Isa. 63 1 2. let thy apparel be red all dyed with the blood of thy enemies Thou art fallen righteous heir by line to the Kingdoms of the world Laugh ye at the giddy-headed clay pots stout brain-sick worms that dare say in good earnest this man shall not reign over us as though they were casting the dice for Christ's crown who of them shall have it I know ye beleeve the coming of Christ's Kingdom and that their is a hole out of your prison through which ye see day-light let not faith be dazled with the temptation from a dying Deputy from a sick Prelat beleeve under a cloud wait for him when there is no moon-light nor star-light Let faith live breath and lay hold on the sure salvation of God when clouds and darkness are about you and appearance of rotting in the prison before you take heed of unbeleeving hearts which can father lies upon Christ beware of Doeth his promise fail for evermore Psal. 77. 8. For is was a man and not God that said it who dreamed that a promise of God could fail fall a-swoon or die we can make God sick or his promises weak when we are pleased to seek a plea with Christ. O sweet O stout word of faith Iob. 13. v. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him O sweet Epitaph written on the grave-stone of a dying beleever To wit I died hoping my dust ashes beleevelife Faith's eyes that can see thorow a mill-stone can see thorow a gloom of God and under it read God's thoughts of love and peace Hold fast Christ in the dark surely ye shall see the savation of God Your adversaries are ripe and dry for the fire yet a little while and they shall goe up in a flame the breath of the Lord like a river of brimstone shall kindle about them Isa. 30 33. What I write to one I write to you all that are sound hearted in that Kingdom whom in the bowels of Christ I would exhort not to touch that Oath albeit the adversaries put a fair meaning on it yet the swearer must swear according to the professed intent godless practise of the oath-breakers which is known to the world otherwise I might swear that the Creed is false according to yet this private meaning sense put upon it Oh let them not be beguiled to wash petjury and the denial of Christ and the Gospel with ink-water some foul and rotten distinctions Wash and wash again and again the devil the lye it shall be long ere their skin be white I profess it should beseem men of great parts rather then me to write to you but I love your Câ—use desires to be excused and must intreat for the help of your prayers in this my weighty charge here for the University and Pulpit that ye would intreat your acquaintance also to help me Grace be with you all Amen St. Andrewes 1640. Your brother companion in the patience Kingdom of Iesus Christ S. R. For Mistress PONT prisoner at Dublin 30 Worthy dear Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you The cause ye suffer for 〈◊〉 your willingness to suffer is ground enough of acquaintance for me to write to you although I doe confess my self unable to speak for a prisoner of Christ's encouragement I know ye have advantage beyond us who are not under suffering for your sighing Psal. 102. 20. is a witten bill for the ears of your Head the Lord Jesus your breathing Lam. 3. 51. and your looking up Psal. 5. 3. 69. 3. And therefore your meaning half spoken half unspoken will seek no jaylor's leave but will goe to heaven without leave of Prelat or Deputy be heartily welcome so that ye may sigh and groâ—n out your mind to him who hath all the keyes of the King 's three Kingdoms and dominions I dare beleeve your hope shall not die your trouble is a part of Zion's burning and ye know who guides Zion's furnance and who loves the ashes of his burnt Bride because his servants love them Psal. 102. 14. I beleeve your ashes if ye were burnt for this cause shall praise him For the wrath of men their malice shall make a psalm to praise the Lord Psal. 76 10. therefore stand still behold see what the Lord is to doe for this Island his work is perfect Deut. 32 4. the nations have not seen the last end of his work his end is more fair more glorious then the beginning Ye have more honour then ye can be able to guide well in that your bonds are made heavy for such an honourable cause The seals of a controlled Gospel the seals by
bonds blood sufferings are not committed to every ordinary professour Some that would back Christ honestly in summer-time would but spill the beauty of the Gospel if they were put to suffering And therefore let us beleeve that wisdom dispenseth to every one here as he thinks good who bears them up that bear the cross since our Lord hath put you to that part which was the flower of his own sufferings we all expect that as ye have in the strength of our Captain begun so ye will goe on without fainting Providence maketh use of men devils for the refining of all the vessels of God's house small great for doing of two works at once in you both for smothing of a stone to make it take bond with Christ in Ierusalem's wall for witnessing to the glory of this reproached born down Gospel which cannot die though hell were made a grave about it It shall be timous joy for you to divide joy betwixt you Christ's laughing Bride 〈◊〉 these three Kingdoms what if your mourning continue till mystical Christ in Ireland in Britain ye laugh both together your laughing joy were the more blessed that one sun should shine upon Christ the Gospel you laughing altogether in these three Kingdoms Your time is measured your dayes hours of suffering from eternity were by infinite wisdom considered If heaven recompense not to your own minde inches of sorrow then I must say that infinite mercy cannot get you pleased but if the first kiss of the white and ruddy cheek of the standard bearer and chief among ten thousand Cant. 5 10 shall over-pay your prison at Dublin in Ireland then ye shall have no counts unanswered to give in to Christ if your faith cannot see a nearer term-day yet let me charge your hope to give Christ a new day till eternity time meet in one point a payed summe if ever payed is payed if no day be broken to the hungry creditour take heaven's bond subscribed obligation for the summe Iohn 14. 3. If Hope can trust Christ I know he can will pay but when all is done suffered by you ten hundred deaths for lovely lovely Jesus is but eternitie's half penny figures ciphers cannot lay the proportion O but the super-plus of Christ's glory is broad large Christ's Item's of eternal glory are hard cumbersom to tell ifye borrow by faith hope ten dayes or ten hundred years from that eternity of glory that abides you ye are payed more in your own hand Therefore O prisoner of hope wait on posting hasting salvation sleeps not Antichrist is bleeding in the way to death he bites forest when he bleeds fastest Keep your intelligence betwixt you heaven your court with Christ he hath in heaven the keyes of your prison can set you at liberty when he pleaseth His rich grace support you I pray you help me with your prayers Grace be with you St Andrews 1640. Your brother in the patience Kingdom of Iesus Christ S. R. To Mr JAMES WILSON 31 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I bless our rich onely wise Lord who careth so for his new creation that he is going over it again trying every piece in you blowing away the motes of his new work in you Alas I am not so fit a Physician as your disease requireth sweet sweet lovely Jesus be your Physician where his under-Chirurgians cannot doe any thing for putting in order the wheels paces goings of a marred soul. I have little time but yet the Lord hath made me so concern my self in your condition that I dow not I dare not be altogether silent First ye doubt from 2 Cor. 13 5. whether ye be in Christ or not so whether ye be a reprobate or not I answer three things to the doubt 1. Ye ow charity to all men but most of all to lovely loving Jesus some also to your self especiall to your renewed self because your new self is not yours but another Lord's even the work of his own Spirit therefore to slander his work is to wrong himself Love thinketh no evil if ye love Grace think not ill of Grace in your self and ye think ill of Grace in your self when ye make it but a bastard and a work of nature for a holy fear that ye be not Christ's and withall a care and a desire to be his not your own is not nay cannot be bastard nature The great Advocate pleadeth hard for you be upon the Advocate 's side O poor feared client of Christ stay side with such a lover who pleadeth for no other man's goods but his own for he if I may say so scorneth to be enriched with an unjust conquest and yet he pleadeth for you whereof your letter though too too full of jealousie is a proof for if ye were not his your thoughts which I hope are but the suggestion of his Spirit that onely bringeth the matter in debate to make it sure to you would not be such nor so serious as these am I his or whose am I 2. Dare ye forswear your owner and say in cold blood I am not his what nature or corruption saith at starts in you I regard not your thoughts of your self when sin and guiltiness round you in the ear and when ye have a sight of your deservings are Apocrypha and not Scripture I hope Hear what the Lord saith of you he will speak peace if your Master say I quite you I shall then bid you eat ashes for bread and drink waters of gall and wormwood But howbeit Christ out of his own mouth should seem to say I came not for thee as he did Matth. 15 24. yet let me say The words of tempting Jesus are not to be stretched as Scripture beyond his intention seeing his intention in speaking them is to strengthen not to deceive therefore here Faith may contradict what Christ seemeth at first to say and so may ye I charge you by the mercies of God be not that cruel to Grace and the new birth as to cast water on your own coal by misbelief If ye must die as I know ye shall not it were a folly to slay your self 3. I hope ye love the new birth a claim to Christ howbeit ye dow not make it good if ye were in hell saw the heavenly face of lovely ten thousand times lovely Iesus that hath God's hew and God's fair fair and comely red and white wherewith it is beautified beyond comparison and imagination ye could not forbear to say Oh! if I could but blow a kiss from my sinfull mouth from hell up to heayen upon his cheeks that are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers Cant. 5 13. I hope ye dare say O fairest sight of heaven O boundless mass of crucified slain love for me give
hath an use for them aswell as for your service howbeit ye are to loath your self for these I hope ye fetch all the heaven ye have here in this life from that which is up above and that your anchor is casten as high and deep as Christ O but it 's far many a mile to his bottom If I had known long since as I doe now though still alas I am ignorant what was in Christ I would not have been so late in starting to the gate to seek him O what can I doe or say to him who hath made the North render me back again A grave is no sure prison to him for the keeping of dry bones Woe 's me that my foolish sorrow and unbelief being on horse-back did ride so produly witlesly over my Lord's Providence but when my Faith was asleep Christ was awake now when I am awake I say he did all things well O infinite wisdom O incomparable loving kindness Alas that the heart I have is so little worthless for such a Lord as Christ is O what oddes finde the saints in hard trials when they feel sap at their roots betwixt them and sun-burnt withered professors crosses and storms cause them to cast their blooms and leaves poor worldlings what will ye doe when the span-length of your forenoon's laughter is ended and when the weeping side of Providence is turned to you I put up all the favours ye have bestowed on my Brother upon Christ's score in whose book are many such counts who will requite them I wish you to be builded more and more upon the stone laid in Zion then ye shall be the more fit to have a hand in rebuilding our Lord 's fallen tabernacle in this land in which ye shall finde great peace when ye come to grips with Death the King of terrouis The God of peace be with your La and keep you blameless till the day of our Lord Jesus St Andrews Your La at all obedience in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To his very dear friend JOHN FENNICK 33 Much honoured dear friend GRace mercy peace be to you The necessary impediments of my calling have hitherto kept me from making a return to your letter the heads whereof I shall now briefly answer As. 1. I approve your going to the fountain when your own Cisterne is dry A difference there must be betwixt Christ's well your borrowed water why but ye have need of emptiness drving up aswell as ve have need of the well want a hole there must be in our vessel to leave room to Christ's art his well hath it's own need of thirsty drinkers to commend infinite love which from eternity did brew such a cellar of living waters for us Ye commend his free love it 's well done Oh if I could help you if I could be master-conveener to gather an earth-full an heaven-full of tongues dipped and steeped in my Lord 's well of love or his wine of love even tongues drunken with his love to raise a song of praises to him betwixt the East West-end furthest points of the broad heavens If I were in your case as alas my dry dead heart is not now in that garden I would borrow leave to come stand upon the banks coasts of that sea of love be a feasted soul to see Love's fair tide free Love's high and lofty waves each of them higher then ten earths flowing in upon pieces of lost clay O welcome welcome great sea O if I had as much love for wideness and breadth as twenty outmost shells and spheres of the heaven of heavens that I might receive in a little flood of his free love Come come dear Friend be pained that the King's wine-cellar of free love his banquetting house O so wide so stately O so God-like so glory-like should be so abundant so overflowing your shallow vessel so little to take in some part of that love but since it cannot come in you for want of room enter your self in this sea of love breath under these waters die of love live as one dead drowned of this Love But why doe ye complain of waters going over your soul that the smoke of the terrors of a wrathfull Lord doeth almost suffocate you bring you to death's brink I know the fault is in your eyes not in him it s not the rock that fleeth moveth but the green sailer if your sense apprehension be made judge of his love there is a graven image made presently even a changed God a foe-God who was once when ye washed your steps with butter the rock poured you out rivers of oyl Iob. 29. 6. a friend-God either now or never let God work ye had never since ye was a man such a fair field for faith for a painted hell an apprehension of wrath in your father is faith's opportunity to try what strength is in it now give God as large a measure of charity as ye have of sorrow now see faith to be faith indeed if ye can make your grave betwixt Christ's feet say Though he should flay me I will trust in him his beleeved love shall be my winding-sheet all my grave-cloaths I shall roll sowe in my soul my slain soul in that web his sweet free love let him write upon my grave Here lieth a beleeving dead man breathing out and making an hole in death's broad side the breath of faith cometh forth through the hole See now if ye can overcome prevail with God wrestle God's tempting to death quit out of breath as that renowned wrestler did Hos 12. 3. And by his strength he had power with God v. 4. Yea he had power over the Angel prevailed He is a strong man indeed who overmatcheth heaven's strength and the holy One of Israel the strong Lord which is done by a secret supply of divine strength within wherewith the weakest being strengthned overcome and conquer It shall be great victory to blow out the flame of that furnace yeare now in with the breath of faith when hell men malice cruelty falshood Devils the seeming glooms of a sweet Lord meet you in the teeth if ye then as a captive of Hope as one fettered in Hope's prison run to your strong hold even from God glooming to God glooming beleeve the salvation of the Lord in the dark which is your onely victory your enemies are but pieces of malitious clay they shall die as men be confounded But that your troubles are many at once arrows come in from all airths from countrey friends wife children foes estate right down from God who is the hope stay of your soul I confess is more very heavy to be born yet all these are not more then Grace all these bits of coals casten in your sea of
mercy cannot dry it up your troubles are many great yet not an ounce-weight beyond the measure of infinite wisdom I hope not beyond the measure of grace that he is to bestow for our Lord never yet brake the back of his childe nor spilt his own work nature's plastering counterfit work he doeth often break in sheards putteth out a candle not lighted at the Sun of righteousness but he must cherish his own reeds handle them softly never a reed getteth a thrust with the Mediator's hand to lay together the two ends of the reed O what bonds ligaments hath our Chirurgion of broken spirits to binde up all his lame bruised ones with cast your disjoynted spirit in his lap lay your burden upon one who is so willing to take your cares your fears off you to exchange niffer your crosses to give you new for old gold for iron even to give you garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness It 's true in a great part what ye write of this Kirk that the letter of Religion onely is reformed scarce that I doe not beleeve out Lord will build his Zion in this land upon this skin of Reformation so long as our scum remaineth our heart-idols are keeped this work must be at a stand and therefore our Lord must yet sift this land and search us with candles and I know he shall give and not sell us his Kingdom his Grace and our remaining guiltiness must be compared the one must be seen in the glory of it and the other in the sinfulness of it But I desire to beleeve and would gladly hope to see that the glancing and shining luster of glory coming from the diamonds and stones set in the crown of our Lord Jesus shall cast rayes and beams many thousand miles about I hope Christ is upon a great Marriage and that his wooing and suting of his excellent Bride doeth take it's beginning from us the ends of the earth O what joy and what glory would I judge it if my heaven should be suspended till I might have leave to run on foot to be a witness of that Marriage-glory see Christ put on the glory of his last married Bride and his last Marriage-love on earth when he shall enlarge his love-bed and set it upon the top of the mountains and take in the elder Sister the Iewes and the fulness of the Gentiles It were heaven's honour glory upon earth to be his lackey to run at his horse-foot and hold up the train of his Marriage-roberoyal in the day of our high aâ—d royal Solomon's espousals But O what glory to have a seat or â—eâ— in King Iesus his chariot that is bottomed with gold paved and lined over and floored within with Love fâ— the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 3. 10. To lie upon such a King's love were a bed next to the flower of heaven's glory I am sorry to hear you speak in your Letter of a God anâ—ry at you and of the sense of his indignation which onely ariseth from suffering for Jesus all that is now come upon you Indeed apprehended wrath flameth out of such ashes as apprehended sin but not from suffering for Christ But suppose ye were in hell for by-gones and for old debt I hope ye ow Christ a great summe of charity to beleeve the sweetness of his love I know what it is to sin in that kinde it is to sin our if it were possible the unchangeableness of a Godhead out of Christ to sin away a lovely unchangeable God Put more honest apprehensions upon Christ put on his own mask upon his face and not your vail made of unbelief which speaketh as if he borrowed love to you from you and your demerits sinfull deservings Oh no! Christ is man but he is not like man he hath man's love in heaven but it is lustered with God's love it is very God's love ye have to doe with When your wheels goe about he standeth still Let God be God and be ye a man and have ye the deserving of man the sin of one who hath suffered your Welbeloved to slip away nay hath refused him entrance when he was knocking till his head and locks were frozen Yet what is that to him his book keepeth your name and is not printed and reprinted and changed and corrected And why but he should goe to his place hide himself Howbeit his Departure be his own good work yet the belief of it in that manner is your sin But wait on till he return with Salvation and cause you rejoyce in the latter end It is not much to complain but rather beleeve then complain and sit in the dust and close your mouth till he make your sown light grow again for your afflictions are not eternal Time will end them so shall ye at length see the Lord's salvation his love sleepeth not but is still in working for you his Salvation will not tarry nor linger Suffering for him is the noblest cross that is out of heaven Your Lord had the waile choice of ten thousand other crosses beside this to exercise you withall but his wisdom his love wailed and choosed out this for you beside them all take it as a choice one make use of it so as ye look to this world as your step-mother in your borrowed prison For it is a love-look to heaven and the other side of the water that God seeketh this is the fruit the flower bloom growing out of your cross that ye be a dead man to time to clay to gold to countrey to friends wife children all pieces of created nothings for in them there is not a seat nor bottom for your soul's love O what room is for your Love if it were as broad as the sea up in heaven and in God! and what would not Christ give for your love God gave so much for your soul blessed are ye if ye have a love for him can call in your soul's love from all idols and can make a God of God a God of Christ draw a line betwixt your heart and him If your deliverance come not Christ's presence and his beleeved love must stand as caution and surety for your deliverance till your Lord send it in his blessed time for Christ hath many Salvations if we could see them and I would think it better born comfort and joy that cometh from the faith of deliverance and the faith of his love then that which cometh from deliverance it self It is not much matter if ye finde ease to your afflicted soul what be the means either of your own wishing or of God's choosing the latter I am sure is best and the comfort strongest and sweetest let the Lord absolutely have the ordering of your evils troubles and put them off you by recommending your cross and your furnace to him
who hath skill to melt his own mettall and knoweth well what to doe with his surnace let your heart be willing that God's fire have your tin and brass and dross to consent to want corruption is a greater mercy then many professors doe well know and to refer the manner of God's Physick to his own wisdom whither it be by drawing blood or giving sugared drinks that cure sick folks without pain it is a great point of faith and to beleeve Christ's cross to be a friend as he himself is a friend is also a special act of faith but when ye are over the water this case shall be a yesterday past an hundred years ere ye were born the cup of glory shall wash the memory of all this away and make it as nothing Onely now take Christ in with you under your yoke and let patience have her perfect work for this haste is your infimity The Lord is rising up to doe you good in the latter end put on the faith of his salvation see him posting hasting towards you Sir my employments being so great hinder me to write at more length excuse me I hope to be mindfull of you I shall be obliged to your if ye help me with your prayers for this people this College my own poor soul. Grace be with you Remember my love to your wife St Andrews Feb. 13. 1640. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To the much honoured PETER STIRLING 34 Much honoured worthy Sir I Received yours cannot but be ashamed that mistaking love hath brought me in court account in the heart of God's children especially of another nation I should not make a lye of the grace of God if I should think I have little share of it my self O how much better were it for me to stand in the counting table of many for a half-penny to be estemed a liker rather than a lover of Christ If I were weighed vanity should bear down the scale as having weight in the ballance above me except my lovely Saviour should cast in beside me some of his borrowed worth Oh if I were writing now sincerely in this extenuation which may be I fear is subtile coosening pride I would I could love something of heaven's worth in you all of your mettall O how happy were I if I could regain conquer back from the creature my sold lost love that I might lay it upon heaven's jewel that ever ever blooming flower of the highest garden even my soul-redeeming never-enoughprized Lord Jesus O that he would wash my love put it on the Mediator's wheel refine it from it's dross tin that I might propine gift that Lord so love-worthy with all my love Oh if I could set a lease of thousands of years a suspension of my part of heaven's glory frist till a long day my desired salvation sobeing I could in this lower kitchin under-vault of his creation be feasted with his love that I might be a footstool for his glory before men Angels Oh if he would let out heaven's fountain upon withered me dry sapless me If I were but sick of love for his love O how would that sickness delight me How sweet would that easing refreshing pain be to my soul I shall be glad to be a witness to behold the Kingdom of the world become Christ's I could stay out of heaven many years to see that victorious triumphing Lord act that prophesied part of his soul-conquering love in taking in to his Kingdom the greater Sister that Kirk of the Iews who sometimes courted our Welbeloved for her little Sister Cant. 8 8. to behold him set up as an ensign a banner of love to the ends of the world And truly we are to beleeve that his wrath is ripe for the land of graven images for the falling of that mill-stone in the midst of the sea Grace be with you St Andrews March 6. 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady FINGASK 35. MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian I make bold to write a line or two unto you by way of counsel howbeit I be most unfit for that I hear and I blesse the father of lights for it that ye have a spirit set to seek God and that the posture of your heart is to look heaven-ward which is a work and cast of the Mediator Christ's right hand who putteth on the heart a new frame for the which I would have your La to see a tye bond of obedience laid upon you that all may be done not so much from obligation of Law as from the tye of free love that the law of ransom-paying by Christ may be the chief ground of all your obedience seeing that ye are not under the Law but under Grace withall know that unbeleef is a spiritual sin so not seen by nature's light that all that Conscience saith is not Scripture Suppose your heart bear witness against you for sins done long agoe yet because many have pardon with God that have not peace with themselves ye are to stand fall by Christ's esteem verdict of you not by that which your heart saith Suppose it may by accident be a good signe to be jealouse of your heavenly husband's love yet it is a sinful sign as there be some happy sins If may speak so not of themselves but because they are neighboured with faith and love and so worthy Lady I would have you hold by this that the ancient love of an old husband standeth firm and sure and let faith hing by this small threed that he loved you before he laid the corner-stone of the world therefore he cannot change his minde because he is God and rests in his love neither is sin in you a good reason wherefore ye should doubt of him or think because sin hath put you in the courtesie and reverence of justice that therefore he is wroth with you Neither is it presumption in you to lay the burden of your salvation upon one mighty to save so being ye lay aside all confidence in your self-worth righteousness True faith is humble seeth no way to escape but onely in Christ And I beleeve ye have put an esteem high price upon Christ they cannot but beleeve so be saved who love Christ and to whom he is precious for the love of Christ hath chosen Christ as a lover it were not like God if ye should chuse him as your liking he not chuse you again nay he hath prevented you in that for ye have not chosen him but he hath chosen you O consider his loveliness beauty that there is nothing which can commend make fair heaven or earth or the creature that is not in him in infinite perfection for fair sun and fair
in heaven in Christ's lap And as he was lent a while to Time so is he given now to Eternity which will take yourself And the difference of your shipping his to heaven Christ's shore the land of life is onely in some few years which weareth every day shorter some short soon-reckoned summers will give you a meeting with him but what with him â—â—y with better company with the chief leader of the heavenly troups that are riding on white horses that are triumphing in glory If Death were a sleep that had no wakening we might sorrow But our Husband shall quickly be at the bed-sides of all that lie sleeping in the grave shall raise their mortal bodies Christ was Death's Cautioner who gave his word to come loose all the clay-pawnes set them at his own right hand our Cautioner Christ hath an Act of Law-surety upon Death to render back his captives And that Lord Jesus who knoweth the turnings windings that is in that black trance of Death hath numbered all the steps of the stair up to heaven he knoweth how long the turnpike is or how many pair of stairs high it is for he ascended that way himself Rev. 1 18. I was dead am alive now he liveth at the right hand of God and his garments have not so much as a smell of death Your afflictions smell of the childrens case the bairns of the house are so nurtured Suffering is no new life it is but the rent of the sons bastards have not so much of the rent take kindly heartsomly with his cross who never yet slew a ehilde with the cross He breweth your cup therefore drink it patiently with the better will Stay wait on till Christ loose the knot that fasteneth his cross on your back for he is coming to deliver I pray you Sister learn to be worthy of his pains who correcteth let him wring be ye waâ—hen for he hath a father's heart a father's hand who is training you up making you meet for the high hall This School of Suffering is a preparation for the King 's higher house let all your visitations speak all the letters of your Lord summonds they cry 1. O vain World 2. O bitter Sin 3 O short uncertain Time 4. O fair Eternity that is above sickness Death 5. O Kingly Princely Bridegroom Hasten Glorie's Marriage shorten Time's short-spun soon-broken threed conquer Sin 6. O happy blessed Death that golden bridge laid over by Christ my Lord betwixt Time's clay-banks heaven's shore the Spirit the Bride say Come answer ye with them Even so come Lord â—esus Come quickly Grace be with you St Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 39 Reverend dear Brother WHat am I to answer you Alas my books are all bare shew me little of God I would fain goe beyond books in to his house of love to see himself Dear Brother neither ye nor I are parties worthy of his love or knowledge Ah! how hath sin bemisted blinded us that we cannot see him But for my poor sâ—lf I am pained like to burst because he will not take down the wall fetch hiâ— uncreated beauty bring his matchless white ruddy face out of heaven one's errand that I may have heaven meeting me ere I goe to it in such a wonderfull sight ye know that Majesty Love doe humble because homely love to sinners dwelleth in him with Majesty Ye should give him all his own court-stiles his high heaven-names What am I to shape conceptions of my highest Lord How broad how high how deep he is above beyond what these conceptions are I cannot tell but for my own weak practice which alas can be no rule to one so deep in love-sickness with Christ as ye are I would fain adde to my thoughts esteem of him make him more high would wish an heart love ten thousand times wider then the outmost circle curtain that goeth about the heaven of heavens to entertain him in that heart with that love But that which is your pain my dear Brother is mine also I am confounded with the thoughts of him I know God is casten if I may speak so in a sweet mould lovely image in the person of that heaven's jewel the man Christ that the steps of that steep ascentâ— stair to the Godhead is the flesh of Christ the new living way there is footing for faith in that curious Ark of the humanity therein dwelleth the Godhead married upon our Humanity I would be in heaven suppose I had not another errand but to see that dainty golden Ark God personally looking out at ears eyes a body such as we sinners have that I might wear my sinfull mouth in kisses on him for evermore I know all the Three blessed Persons should be well pleased that my piece of faint created love should first coast upon the man Christ I should see them all through him I am called from writing by my great imployments in this town have said nothing but what can I say of him Let us goe see St Andrews 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 40 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I am heartily sorry that your La is deprived of such an husband the Lord's Kirk of so active faithfull a friend I know your La long agoe made acquaintance with that wherein Christ will have you joyned in a fellowship with himself even with his own Cross hath taught you to stay your soul upon the Lord's goodwill who giveth not account of his matters to any of us When he hath led you through this water that was in your way to glory there are fewer behinde his order in dismissing us sending us out of the market one before another is to be reverenced One year's time of heaven shall swallow up all sorrows even beyond all comparison What then will not a duration of blessedness so long as God shall live fully and abundantly recompense It is good that our Lord hath given a debter obliged by gracious promises for more in Eternity then Time can take from you I beleeve your La hath been now many years advising thinking what that Glory will be which is abiding the pilgrims strangers on the earth when they come home which we may think of love thirst for but we cannot comprehend it nor conceive of it as it is far less can we over-think or over-love it O so long a Chapter or rather so large a Volume as Christ is in that Divinity of Glory There is no more of him let down now to be seen enjoyed by his children but as much as may feed hunger in
father's house is good enough to die in It may be the living childe I speak not of Mr. Hugh is more grief to you then the dead Ye are to wait on if at any time God shall give him repentance Christ waited as long possibly on you me certainly longer on me if he should deny repentance to him I could say some thing to that but I hope better things of him It seemeth that Christ will have this world your step-dame I love not your condition the woâ—se it may be a proof that ye are not a childe of this lower house but a stranger Christ seeth it not good onely but your onely good to be lead thus to heaven think this a favour that he hath bestowed upon you Free free grace that is mercy without hire ye paid nothing for it And who can put a price upon any thing of Royal and Princely Jesus Christ And that God hath given to you to suffer for him the spoiling of your goods esteem it as an act of free grace also Ye are no loser having himself And I perswade my self if ye could prize Christ nothing could be bitter to you Grace grace be with you London 1645. Your Brother Well-wisher S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 42 Worthy Friend GRace be to you I doe unwillingly write unto you of that which God hath done concerning your son in law onely I beleeve ye look not below Christ and the higest and most supream act of providence which moveth all wheels And certainly what came down enacted concluded in the great book before the throne signed subscribed with the hand which never did wrong should be kissed adored by us we see God's decrees when they bring forth their fruits all actions good ill sweet sowre in their time But we see not presently the after-birth of God's decree to wit his blessed end the good that he bringeth out of the womb of his holy spotless counsel we see his working we sorrow The end of his counsel working lieth hidden underneath the ground therefore we cannot beleeve Even amongst men we see hewen stones timber an hundred scattered parcels pieces of an house all under-tools hammers axes saws yet the house the beauty ease of so many lodgings ease-rooms we neither see nor understand for the present these are but in the minde head of the builder as yet wee see red earth unbroken clods furrows stones but we see not summer-lilies roses the beauty of a garden If ye give the Lord time to work as often he that beleeveth not maketh haste but not speed his end is under the ground ye shall see it was your good that your Son hath changed dwelling-places but not his Master Christ thought good to have no more of his service here yet Rev. 22 3. His servants shall serve him He needeth not us or our service either in earth or in heaven But ye are to look to him who giveth the hireling both his leave his wages for his naked aim purpose to serve Christ as well as for his labours It is put up in Christ's account such a labourer did sweat fourty years in Christ's vineyard howbeit he got not leave to labour so long because he who accepteth of the will for the deed counteth so None can teach the Lord to lay an account He numbereth the drop of rain knoweth the stars by their names It would take us much studying to give a name to every star in the firmament great or small See Lev. 13 13. And Aaron held his peace Ye know his two Sons were â—â—ain whilst they offered strange fire to the Lord Command your thoughts to be silent If the souldiers of Newcasile had done this ye might have stomacked but the weapon wa in another hand Hear the rod what it preacheth see the name of God Mâ—… 6. 9. And know that there is somewhat of God Heaven in the â—od The Majesty of the unsearchable bottomless wayes judgements of God is not seen in the rod the seeing of them râ—quireth the eyes of the man of wisdom If the sufferings of some other with you in that loss could ease you ye want them not But He can doe no wrong he cannot halt his goings are equal who hath done it I know our Lord aimeth at more mortification let him not come in vain to your house lose the pâ—ins of a mercifull visite God the founder never melteth in vain howbeit to us he seemeth often to lose both fire mettall But I know yeare more in this work then I can be There is no cause to faint or weary Grace be with you the rich consolations of Jesus Christ sweeten your cross support you under it I rest London Octob. 15. 1645. Yours in his Lord Master S. R. To Misâ—ress HUME 43. Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you If ye have any thing better then the husband of your youth ye are Jesus Christ's deâ—ter for it Pay not then your debts with grudging Sorrow may diminish from the sweet fruit of righteousness but quietness silence submission faith put a crown upon your sad losses ye know whose voice the voice of a crying rod is Micah 6. 9. The name majesty of the Lord is written on the rod read be instructed Let Christ have the room of the husband he hath now no need of you or of your love for he enjoyeth asmuch of the love of Christ as his heart can be capable of I confess it is a dear-bought experience to teach you to undervalue the creature yet it is not too dear if Christ think it so I know that the disputing of your thoughts against his going thither the way manner of his death the instruments the place the time will not ease your spirit except ye rise higher then second causes be silent because the Lord hath done it If we measure the goings of the Almighty his wayes the bottom whereof we see not we quite mistake God O how little a portion of God see we He is far above our ebbe narrow thoughts He ruled the world in wisdom ere we creatures of yesterday were born shall rule it when we shall be lodging beside the worms corruption Onely learn heavenly wisdom self-deniall mortification by this sad loss I know that it is not for nothing except ye deny God to be wise in all he doeth that ye have loâ— one in earth There hath been too little of your love heart in heaven therefore the jealousie of Christ hath done this It is a mercy that he contendeth with you all your lovers I should dâ—sire no greater savour for my self then that Christ laid a necessity took on such bonds upon himself Such an one I must have such a soul I cannot live in heaven without Ioh. 10. 16. And beleeve it it
is incomprehensible love that Christ saith If I enjoy the glory of my father the crown of heaven far above men Angels I must use all means though never so violent to have the company of such an One for ever ever If with the eyes of wisdom as a childe of wisdom ye justifie your mother The wisdom of God whose childe ye are ye shall kiss embrace this loss see much of Christ in it Beleeve submit referre the income of the consolations of Jesus the event of the trial to your heavenly father who numbereth all your hairs And put Christ in his own room in your Love It may be he hath either been out of his own place or in a place of love inferiour to his worth Repair Christ in all his wrongs done to him love him for a husband he is a husband to the widdow shall be that to you which he hath taken from you Grace be with you London Octob. 15. 1645. Your sympath Zing Brother S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 44 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I have heard with grief that Newcastle hath taken one more in a bloody account then before even your Son in Law my friend But I hope ye have learned that much of Christ as not to look to wheels rolled round about on earth Earthen vessels are not to dispute with their Former peices of sinning-clay may by reasoning contending with the Potter mar the work of him who hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem as bullocks sweating wrestling in the furrow make their yoke more heavie In quietness rest ye shall be saved If men doe any thing contrary to our heart we may ask both who did it And what is done And why When God hath done any such thing we are to enquire who hath done it And to know that this cometh from the Lord who is wonderfull in counsel but we are not to ask what or why If it be from the Lord as certainly their is no evil in the city without him Amos. 3. 6. it is enough the fairest face of his spotless way is but coming ye are to beleeve his works aswell as his word Violent death is a sharer with Christ in his death which was violent it maketh not much what way we goe to heaven the happie home is all where the roughness of the way shall be forgotten He is gone home to a friend's house and made welcome and the race is ended Time is recompensed with eternity and copper with gold God's order is in wisdom the husband goes home before the wife and the throng of the marker shall be over ere it be long and another generation where we now are and at length an emptie house and not one of mankinde shall be upon the earth within the sixth part of an hour after the earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up with fire I fear more that Christ is about to remove when he carrieth home so much of his plenishing before hand we cannot teach the Almighty knowledge when he was directing the bullet against his servant to fetch out the soul no wise man could cry to God Wrong wrong Lord for he is thine own There is no mist over his eyes who is wonderfull in counsel If Zion be builded with your son in law's blood the Lord deep in counsel can glew together the stones of Zion with blood and with that blood which is precious in his eyes Christ hath fewer labourers in his vineyard then he had but some moe witnesses for his cause and the Lord's Covenant with the three Nations What is Christ's gain is not your loss Let not that which is his holy and wise will be your unbeleeving sorrow Though I really judge I had interest in his dead servant yet because he now liveth to Christ I quite the hops I had of his succesfull labouring in the ministery I know he now praiseth the grace that he was to preach And if there were a better thing on his head now in heaven then a crown or any thing more excellent then heaven he would cast it down before his feet who sitteth on the throne Give glory therefore to Christ as he now doeth and say Thy will be done The grace and consolation of Christ be with you London Nov 15. 1645. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the vicountesse of KENMURE 45 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La though Christ lose no time yet when sinfull men drive his chariot the wheels of 〈◊〉 chariot move slowly The woman Zion as soon as she travelled brought forth her children yea Isa. 66 7. before she travelled she brought fâ—rth before her pain came she was delivered of a man-childe Yet the deliverance of the people was with the woman's going with childe seventy years that is more then nine moneths There be many oppositions in carrying on the work but I hope the Lord will build his own Zion evidence to us that it is done not by might not by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Madam I have heard of your infirmities of body sickness I know the issue shall be mercy to you that God's purpose which lieth hidden underground to you is to commend the sweetness of his love care to you from your youth And if all the sad losses trials sicknesses infirmities griefs heaviness inconstancie of the creature be expounded as sure I am they are the rods of the jealousie of an husband in heaven contending with all your lovers on earth though there were millions of them for your love to fetch more of your love home to heaven to make it single unmixt chast to the fairest in heaven earth to Jesus the Prince of ages ye will forgive to borrow that word every rod of God not let the Sun goe down on your wrath against any messinger of your afflicting correcting Father Since your La cannot but see that the mark at which Christ hath aimed at these twenty four years and above is to have the company fellowship of such a sinfull creature in heaven with him for all eternity and because he will not such is the power of his love enjoy his father's glory and that crown due to him by eternall generation without you by name Ioh. 17 24. Ioh. 10 16. Ioh. 14 3. Therefore Madam beleeve no evil of Christ Listen to no hard reports that his rods make of him to you He hath loved you washed you from your sins what would ye have more Is that too little except he adjourne all crosses till ye be where ye shall be out of all capacity to sigh or to be crossed I hope ye can desire no more no greater nor more excellent sute then Christ the fellowship of the Lamb for evermore And if that desire be answered in heaven as I am sure it is ye cannot
denie but it is made sure to you the want of these poor accidents of a living husband of many children of an healthfull body of a life of case in the world without one knot in the rush are nobly made up may be comfortably born Grace grace be with your La London October 16. 1645. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To a Christian friend upon the death of his wife 46 Worthy friend I Desire to suffer with you in the loss of a loving good wife now gone before according to the method order of him of whose understanding there is no searching out whither ye are to follow He that made yesterday to goe before this day the former generation in birth life to have been before this present generation hath made some flowers to grow and die wither in the moneth of May others in Iune cannot be challenged in the order he hath made of things without souls And some order he must keep also here that one might bury another Therefore I hope ye shall be dumb silent because the Lord hath done it what creatures or under-causes doe in sinfull mistakes are ordered in wisdom by your Father at whose feet your own soul your heaven lieth so the dayes of your wife If the place she hath left were any other then a prison of sin the home she is gone to any other then where her â—ead Saviour is King of the land your grief had been more rationall But I trust your faith of the resurrection of the dead in Christ to glory immortality will lead you to suspend your longing for her till the morning dawning of that day when the Archangel shall descend with a shout to gather all his prisoners out of the grave up to himself To beleeve this is best for you to be silent because he hath done it iâ— your wisdom It is much to come out of the Lord's School of trial wiser more experienced in the wayes of God And it is our happiness when Christ openeth a veine he taketh nothing but ill blood from his sick ones Christ hath skill to doe and if our corruption mar not the art of mercy in correcting we cannot of our selves take away the tin the lead the scum that remaineth in us And if Christ be not Master-of-work if the furnace goe it's alone he not standing nigh the melting of his own vessel the labour were lost the founder should melt in vaine God knoweth some of us have lost much fire sweating pains to our Lord Jesus the vessel is almost marred the furnace rod of God spilt day-light burnt the reprobat mettall not taken away so as some are to answer to the Majesty of God for the abuse of many good crosses rich afflictions lost without the quiet fruit of righteousness And it is a sad thing when the rod is cursed that never fruit shall grow on it except Christ's dâ—w fall down his summer-sunshine his grace follow afflictions to cause them bring fâ—rth fruit to God they are so fruitless to us that our evil ground rank fat enough for briers casteth up a crope of noisome weeds The rod as the prophet saith Ezek 7 10 11. blossometh pride buddeth forth violence riseth up into a rod of wickedness all this hath been my case under many rods since I saw you Grace be with you London 1645. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To a Christian Brother 47 Reverend beloved in the Lord. IT may be I have been too long silent but I hope ye will not impute it to forgetfulness of you As I have heard of the death of your daughter with heaviness of minde on your behalf so am I much comforted that she hath evidenced to your self other witnesses the hope of the resurrection of the dead as sown corn is not lost for there is more hope of that which is sown then of that which is eaten 1 Cor. 15. 42. so also is it in the resurrection of the dead the body is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory I hope ye wait for the crope harvest 1 Thess. 4. 14. For if we beleeve that Iesus died rose again even so also them which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him then they are not lost who are gathered in to that Congregation of the first-born the General Assembly of the Saints though we cannot outrun nor overtake them that are gone before yet we shall quickly follow them the difference is that she hath the advantage of some moneths or years of the Crown before you her mother we doe not take it ill if our children outrun us in the life of grace why then are we sad if they outstrip us in the attainment of the life of glory It would seem that there is more reason to grieve that childreÌ„ live behinde us then that they are glorified die before us all the difference is in some poor hungry accidents of-time less or more sooner or later so the godly childe though young died of an hundred years old ye could not now have bestowed her better though the choise was Christ's not yours I am sure Sir ye cannot now say she is married against the will of her parents she might more readily if alive fall in the hand of a worse husband but can ye think that she could have fallen in the hands of one better and if Christ marry with your house it is your honour not any cause of grief that Jesus should portion any of yours ere she enjoy your portion is it not great love the patrimony is more then any other could give as good a husband is unpossible to say a better is blasphemy The King Prince of ages can keep them better then ye can doe while she was alive ye could intrust her to Christ recommend her to his keeping now by an after-faith ye have resigned her unto him in whose bosom doe sleep all that are dead in the Lord ye would havelent her to glorifie the Lord upon earth he hath borrowed her with promise to restore her again 1 Cor. 15 53. 1 Thess. 4 15. 16 to be an organ of the immediate glorifying of himself in heaven sinless glorifying of God is better then sinfull glorifying of him And sure your prayers concerning her are fulfilled I shall desire if the Lord shall be pleased the same way to dispose of her mother that ye have the same minde Christ cannot multiply injuries upon you if the fountain be the love of God as I hope it is ye are enriched with losses Ye know all I can say better before I was in Christ then I can express it Grace be with you London Jan. 6. 1646. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 48 MISTRESS GRace mercy
peace be to you If Death which is before you us all were any other thing but a friendly dissolution a change not a destruction of Life it would seem a hard voyage to goe through such a sad dark trance so thorny a valley as is the wages of sin but I am confident the way ye know though your foot never trode in that black shadow the loss of life is gain to you if Christ Jesus be the period the end lodging-home at the end of your journey there is no fear ye goe to a friend since ye have had a communion with him in this life he hath a pawne pledge of yours even the largest share of your love heart ye may look Death in the face with joy If the heart be in heaven the remnant of you cannot be kept the prisoner of the second Death But though he be the same Christ in the other life ye found him to be here yet he is so far in his excellency beauty sweetness irradiations beams of Majesty above what he appeared here when he is seen as he is that ye shall misken him he shall appear a new Christ his kisses breathings embracements the perfume the oyntment of his name poured out on you shall appear to have more of God a stronger smell of heaven of eternity of a Godhead of Majesty glory there then here As water at the fountain apples in the orchard beside the tree have more of their native sweetness taste beauty then when transported to us some hundred miles I mean not that Christ can lose any of his sweetness in the carrying or that he in his Godhead and lovileness of presence can be changed to the worse betwixt the little spot of the earth ye are in and the right hand of the father far above all heavens but the change will be in you when ye shall have new senses and the soul shall be a more deep more capacious vessel to take in more of Christ and when means the chariot the Gospel that he is now carried in and ordinances that conveigh him shall be removed sure ye cannot now be said to see him face to face or to drink of the wine of the highest fountain or to take in seas and tides of fresh love immediately without vessels mids's or messengers at the fountain it self as ye shall doe a few dayes hence when ye shall be so near as to be with Christ Luk. 23 43 Ioh 17 24. Phil. 1 23. 1 Thess. 4 17. ye would no doubt bestow a dayes journey yea many dayes journey on earth to goe up to heaven and fetch down any thing of Christ how much more may ye be willing to make a journey to goe in person to heaven it is not lost time but gained eternity to enjoy the full Godhead then in such a manner as he is not there in his week-dayes apparel as he is here with us in a drop or the tenth part of a night's dewing of grace sweetness but he is there in his Marriage-robe of glory richer more costly more precious in one hem or button of that garment of fountain-majesty then a million of worlds O the well is deep ye shall then think that Preachers sinfull Ambassadors on earth did but spill mar his praises when they spoke of him and preached his beauty Alas we but make Christ black less lovely in making such insignificant dry cold low expressions of his highest and transcendent super-excellency to the daughters of Ierusalem Sure I have often for my own part sinned in this thing No doubt Angels doe not fulfill their task according to their obligation in that Christ kept their feet from falling with the lost Devils though I know they are not behinde in going to the utmost of created power but there is sin in our praising sin in the quantity besides other sins but I must leave this it is too deep for me Goe see we desire to goe with you But we are not masters of our own diet If in that last journey ye tread on a serpent in the way thereby wound your heel as Jesus Christ did before you the print of the wound shall not be known at the resurrection of the just Death is but an awâ—om step over Time Sin to sweet Jesus Christ who knew felt the worst of Death for Death's teeth hurt him We know Death hath no teeth now no jaws for they are broken it is a free prison Citizens pay nothing for the Grave the Jaylor who had the power of Death is destroyed praise glory be to the first begotten of the dead The worst possibly that may be is that ye leave behinde you children husband the Church of God in miseries but ye cannot get them to heaven with you for the present ye shall not miss them Christ cannot miscount one of the poorest of his lambs no lad no girle no poor one shall be a missing ere ye see them again in the day that the Son shall render up the Kingdom to his Father The evening the shadow of every poor hireling is coming the Church of Christ's Sun in this life is declining Low not a soul of the Militant company will be here within few Generations our Husband will send for them all It is a rich mercy we are not married to Time longer then the course be finished Ye may rejoyce that ye goe not to heaven till ye know that Jesus is there before you that when ye come thither at your first entry ye may finde the smell of his oyntments his Myrrhe AloeÌ„s Cassia and this first salutation of his will make you finde it is no uncomfortable thing to die Goe and enjoy your gain live on Christ's love while ye are here and all the way as for the Church ye leave behinde you the Government is upon Christ's shoulders and he will plead for the blood of his Saints The bush hath been burning above five thousand years we never yet saw the ashes of this fire yet a little while the vision shall not tarry it shall speak not lye I am more afraid of my duty then of the Head Christ's government he cannot fail to bring judgement to victory O that we could wait for our hidden life O that Christ would remove the covering draw aside the curtain of time and rent the heavens come down O that shadows night were gone that the day would break he that feedeth among the lilies would cry to his heavenly trumpetters marke ready let us goe down fold together the four corners of the world marry the Bride His grace be with you Now if I have found favour with you if ye judge me faithfull my last sute to you is that ye would leave me a legacy that is that my name be at the very last in your prayers as I desire
the grave in the faith of the justnesse of our cause I speak nothing of the mantaining the greatnesse of men not subordinate to the Prince of the Kings of the earth I Judge that the blood of the witnesses of Jesus is found upon the skirts of this society asweel as in Babylons skirts I beleeve the way of the Lord is Col Gilbert Ker's strength glory should be countent to want my part of him which is I confesse precious dear in Christ so he be spent in the service of him who will anone make inquisition for the blood of the truely godly which these men have shedafter fair warning that they were the godly of Scotland Worthy Sir beleeve faint not set your shoulder under the glory of Jesus that is misprised in Scotland give a testimony for him he hath many names in Scotland who shall walk with him in white This despised Covenant shall ruine Malignants Sectaries Atheisâ—s Yet a little while behold he cometh walketh in the greatnesse of his strength his garments dyed with blood Oh for the sad terrible day of the Lord upon England their ships of Tarshish their fenced Cities c. because of a broken Covenant A conference with the enemy not to hinder Acting O that the Lord would thereby or some other way remove the cloud that is over you if authority would concurre were to be desired but it can hardly be exspected however in the way of duty in the silence of faith goe on if ye perish ye are the first of the creation with whom the Lord hath taken that dispensation I should humbly advise you Sir to look to that Dying behold we live killed all the day long yet more then conquerours There shall be the heat warmenesse of life in your graves buried bones But look not for the Lord 's coming the higher way onely for he may come the lower way O how little of God doe we see how mysterious is he Christ known is amongst the greatest secrets of God Keep your self in the love of God in order to that as far in obedience subjection to the King whose salvation true happinesse my soul desireth to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake to the foundamentall lawes of this kingdom as your Lord requireth Sir ye are in the hearts prayers of the Lord's people in this kingdom in the other two The Lord hath said There is a blessing in the cluster of graps destroy it not Grace grace be upon the head of him that is separated from his brethren the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush be with you Perth 23. Nov. 1650. Your servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Collonel G. KER 60. Much honoured worthy Sir I know not why the people of God should not take notice of the bonds of any who have blood in readinesse to be let out for his cause And I judge it was not of you that ye died not in the undecided controversie which the Lord of the whole earth hath with the men whom he hath sent against us Dear much honoured in the Lord Let me intreat you to be far from the thoughts of leaving this Land I see it finde it that the Lord hath covered the whole land with a cloud in his anger but though I have been tempted to the like I had rather be in Scotland beside angry Jesus Christ knowing he mindeth no evil to us then in any Eden or garden in the earth If we can remain united with the Lord's remant in the land he layeth up wrath for all sort of Adversaries in Britain Though I never see the glory of his glistering sword shining in Britain I would be solaced in the innocent thoughts far from revenge that the saints shall dip their feet in the blood of the sâ—ain of the Lord truely Sir I suppose ye cannot but come to these thoughts weak desires before the hearer of prayers for as little as ye think of value your self for me if I could minde you in your bonds I purpose not to stand to the account ye give or thoughts ye have of your self though I know ye are not in a whit more or lesse before him who weigheth his own according to the weight of imputed righteousnesse for my apprehensions Christ cannot mistake you men may the calculation esteem of free grace maketh you to be what ye are I hope to see you an everlastingly obliged debter to him whom ye shall praise but never pay And truely ye have no riches but that debt and I know ye Love to be ingaged to Jesus Christ the most excellent of creditors much joy sweetnesse may ye have in standing written in his book I desire to doe it my self I would have you also highly to esteem the designe of Christ who hath raised the riches of the glory of so much grace above the Circle of the heaven of heavens out of very nothings contrived his thoughts of love so that ' lumps of glorified clay should stand before him for all ages the burdenes loaden debters of free eternally free grace Sir ye cannot cast the count of the rents of your so great inheritance of glory Grace be with you Edinb May. 18. 1651. Your servant in his own Lord Iesus S. R. To the much honoured truely worthy Collonel G. KER Habakuk 2 3 4. 61. Much honoured worthy Sir YOur chains now shine as much for Christ the cause being his as your sword was made famous in acting for that cause And blessed are such as can willingly tender to Christ both action blood doing suffering Resisting unto blood is little for that precious never-enough exalted Redeemer who when ye were a buying gave blood somewhat dearer then ye gave for him even the blood of God Act. 20 28. I know a man who upon the receit of a letter that ye were killed the people of God destroyed wished that he might be quickly under the wall of the higher palace from under the dint of the storm who longed to have the weather-beaten crazie bark safely landed in that harbour of eternall quietnesse What further service Christ hath for you I know not it is enough in that your captivity ye offer your service to Christ but if I see any thing it looks like a mercifull defeat I see the Nobles the State falling off from Christ the night coming upon the Prophets which we would pray to prevent because it is a rare thing to see a fallen star win ever up again to the firmament to shine And what if this be the thick darkness going before the break of day Sure Sir the Sun shall rise upon Scotland but if I shall see it or how near it is to day I leave that to him even unto Iehovah who creats upon every dwelling in
you to read study well the book of holy holy spotless soveraignity in suffering from some nigh hand some far off Whoever be the instruments the replying of â—lay to the Potter the Former of all is unbeseeming the nothing creature I hope he shall clear you but when Zion's publict evils lie not nigh some of us leave no impression upon our hearts it is no wonder that we be exercised with domestick troubles but I know ye are taught of God to prefer Jerusalem to your chiefest joy Madam there is no cause of fainting Wait upon the not-carrying vision for it will speak The onely wise God be with you God even your own God bless you St Andrews June 1657. Yours at all observance in God S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 67. MADAM I Should not forget you but my deadness under a threatning-stroke both of a failing Church a broken Covenant a despised remnant craziness of body that I cannot get a piece sickly clay carryed about from one house or town to another lies most heâ—vy on me The Lord hath removed Scotland's crown for we owned not his crown we fretted at his Catholick Government of the world fretted that he would not be ruled led by us in breaking our adversaries he makes us suffer pine away in our in quities under the broken Government of his house It 's like it would be our snare to be tryed with the honour of a peaceable Reformation we might mar the carved work of his house worse then thâ—se against whom we cry out It 's like he hath bidden us lie on our left side three hundred ninetie dayes yet so astonishing is our stupiditie that we â—…oan not our sore side Our gold is become dim the visage of our Nazarites is become black the Sun is gone down on our Seeâ—s the crown is sallen from our head we roar like bears Lord save us from that He that hath made them will not have meâ—â— on them The heart of the Scribe meditats terror Oh Madam if the Lord would help to more self-judging and to make sure an interest in Christ Ah we forget eternity it approacheth quickly Grace be with you St Andrewes 20 Nov. 1657. Your La at all obedience in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 68 MADAM I am ashamed of my long silence to your Lâ— Your â—ossings wanderings are known to him upon whom ye have been cast from the breasts who hath been your God of old The temporall loss of creatures dear to you there may be the more easily endured that the gain of one who onely hath immortality groweth There is an universal complaint of deadness of spirit on all that know God he that writes to you Madam is as deep in this as any is afraid of a strong hot battle before time be at a close but no matter if the Lord crown all with the victorious triumphing of faith God teacheth us by terrible things in righteousness we see many things but we observe nothing Our drink is sowre gray hairs are here there on us we change many Lords Rulers but the same bondage of soul body remains We live little by faith but much by sense according to the times by humane policy The watchmen sleep the people perish for lack of knowledge How can we be enlightened when we turn our back on the Sun And must we not be withered when we leave the fountain It should be my onely desire to be a minister gifted with the white stone the new name written on it I judge it were fit now when tall Professors when many stars fall from heaven God poureth the Isle of great Britain from vessel to vessel yet we sit are setled on our lees to consider as sometimes I doe but ah rarely how irrecoverable a â—oe it is to be under a beguile in the matter of eternity what if I who can have a subscribed testimoniall of many who shall stand at the right hand of the judge shall miss Christ's approving testimony be set upon the left hand among the goats there is such a beguile Math. 7 22. Math. 25 8 9 10 11 12. Luke 13. 25 26. And iâ— befalls many what if it befall me who have but too much art to coosen my own soul others with the flourish of ministerial or Countrey-holiness Dear Lady I am afraid of prevailing security we watch little I have mainly relation to my self we wrettle little I am like one travelling in the night who sees a Spirit sweats for fear dare not tell it to his fellow for encreasing his own fear however I am sure when the Master is nigh his coming it were safe to write over a double new copy of our accounts of the sins of nature childhood youth riper years old age What if Christ have another written representation of me then I have of my self sure his is right if it contradict my mistaking sinfully erroneous account of myself ah where am I then But Madam I discourage none I know Christ hath made a new marriage contract of love sealed it with his blood the trembling beleever shall not be confounded Grace be with you St Andrews May 26. 1659. Yours at all obedience in Christ S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 69 MADAM I should be glad that the Lord would be pleased to lengthen our more time to you that ye might yet before your eyes be shut see more of the work of the right hand of the Lord in reviving a now-swooning and crushed Land Church Though I was lately knocking at deaths gate yet could I not get in but was sent back for a time It is well if I could yet doe any service to him but ah what deadness lieth upon the spirit deadness breedeth distance from God Madam These many years the Lord hath let you see a clear difference betwixt these who serve God 〈◊〉 love his name these who serve him not I judge ye look upon the way of Christ as the onely best way that ye would not exchange Christ for the world's God or their Mammon that ye can give Christ a testimony of chief among ten thousand True it is that many of us have fallen from our first love but Christ hath renewed his first love of our â—â—pousals to himself multiplied the seekers of God all the countrey over even where Christ was scarce named East West South North above the number that our fathers ever knew But ah Madam what shall be done or said of many fallen stars and many near to God complying wofully and failing to the nearest shore Yea we are consumed in the furnace but not melted burnt but not purged our dross is not removed but our scum remains in us in the furnace we fret we faint which is more strange we slumber The fire burneth
bemoaned I desire no more till I be in heaven but such a feast fill of Christ's love as I would have This love would be fair adorning passements which would beautifie set forth my black unpleasant cross I cannot tell my Dear Brother what a great lead I would bear if I had a hearty fill of the love of that lovely one Christ Iesus Oh if ye would seek pray for that to me I would give Christ all his love stiles and titles of honour if he would give me but this nay I would sell my self if I could for that love I have been waiting to see what friends of place power would doe for us But when the Lord looseth the pins of his own Tabernacle he will have himself to be acknowledged as the onely builder up thereof therefore I would take back again my hope that I lent and laid in pawne in mens hands give it wholly to Christ it is no time for me now to set up idols of my own it were a pity to give an ounce weight of hope to any besides Christ I think him well worthy or all my hope though it were as weighty as both heaven earth Happy were I if I had any thing that Christ would seek or accept of But now alas I see not what service I can doe to him except it to be talk a little bable upon a piece of paper concerning the love of Christ. I am often as if my faith were wedset so that I cannot command it and then when he hideth himself I run to the other extream in making each wing and toe of my case as big as a mountain of iron And then misbelief can spin out an hell of heavy desponding thoughts then Christ seeketh law-borrows of my unbeleeving apprehensions chargeth me to beleeve his day-light at midnight But I make pleas with Christ though it be ill my common so to doe It were my happiness when I am in his house of wine when I finde a feast-day if I could hearken hear for the time to come Isa 42. 3. But I see we must be off our feet in wading a deep water then Christ's love findeth timeâ—us employment at such a dead lift as that And besides after broken brows bairns learn to walk more circumspectly If I come to heaven any way howbeit like a tired traveller upon my guide's shoulder it 's good enough for these who have no legs of their own for such a journey I never thought there had been need of so much wrestling to win to the top of that steâ—p mountain as now I finde Woe 's me for this broken backsliding Church it is like an old bowing wall leaning to the one side there is none of all her sons who will set a prop under her I know I need not bemoan Christ for he careth for his own honour more then I can doe but who can blame me to be woe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had grace so to doe to see my welbeloved ' fair face spittâ—d upon his crown plucked off hiâ— head the ark of God taken carryed in the Philistins caâ—t and the â—ine put to carry it who will let it fall to the ground The Lord put to his own helping hand I would desire you to prepare your self for a fight with beast ye will not get leave to steel quietly to heaven in Christ's company without a conflict a cross Remember my bonds praise my second fellow prisoner Christ. Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINNING 167 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you Your ease is unknown to me whether ye be yet our Lord's prisoner at Wâ—gton or not However it be I know our Lord Iesus hath been enquiring for you that he hath honoured you to bear his chains which is the golden end of his cross so hath wailed out a chosen honourable cross for you I wish you much joy comfort of it for I have nothing to say of Christ's cross but much good I hope my ill word shall never meet either Christ or his sweet easie cross I know he seeketh of us an out-cast with this house of clay this mother-prison this earth that we love fall well verily when Christ snuffeth my candle causeth my light to shine upward it is one of my greatest wonders that dirt clay hath so much court with a soul not made of clay that our soul goeth out of kinde so far as to make an idol of this earth such a deformed harlot as that it should wrong Christ of our love How fast how fast doeth our ship sail And how fair a wind hath Time to blow us off these coasts this land of dying perishing things And alas our ship saileth one way fleeth many miles in one hour to hasten us upon eternity our love hearts are sailing close back over swimming towards ease lawless pleasure vain honour perishing riches to build a fool's nest I know not where to lay our egges within the sea-mark fasten our bits of broken anchors upon the worst ground in the world this fleetting perishing life in the mean while time tide carry us upon another life there is daily less less oile in our lamp less less sand in our watch-glass O what a wise course were it for us to look away from the false beauty of our borrowâ—d prison to minde eye lust for our countrey Lord Lord take us home And for my self I think if a poor weak dying sheep seek for an old dike the lee-side of an hill in a storm I have cause to long for a covert from this storm in heaven I know none will take my room over my head there But certainly sleepy bodies would be at rest a well made bed an old crazed bark at a shore a wearied traveller at home a breathless horse at the rink's end I see nothing in this life but sin the sowre fruits of sin And O what a burden is sin what a slavery miserable bondage is it to be at the nod yea's nay's of such a lord-master as a body of sin Truly when I think of it it is a wonder that Christ maketh not fire ashes of such a dry branch as I am I would often lie down under Christ's feet bid him trample upon me when I consider my guiltiness But seeing he hath sworn that sin shall not loose his unchangeable covenant I keep house-room amongst the rest of the ill learned bairns must cumber the Lord of the house with with the rest till my Lord take the fetters off legs arms destroy this body of sin make a hole or a breach in this cage of earth that the bird may flee out and the imprisoned soul be at liberty In the
we list O what difficulty is there in our christian journey how often come we short of many thousand things that are Christ's due and we consider not how far our dear Lord is behinde with us Mistress I cannot render you thanks as I would for your kindness to my Brother â—n opprâ—ssâ—d stranger but I remember you unto the Lord as I am able I entreat you think upon me his prisoner pray that the Lord would be pleased to give me â—oom to speak to 〈◊〉 people in his name Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lorâ— and Master S. R. To FULWOOD Younger 195 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you Upon the report of this worthy bearer concerning you I thought good to speaâ— a woâ—d to you It is enough for acquaintance that we are one in Christ My earnest desire to you is that ye would in the fear of God compare your inch hand-breadth of time with vaste Eternity your thoughts of this now fair blooming and green world with the thoughts ye shall have of it when corruption worms shall make their houses in your eye-holes shall eat your flesh make that body dry bones if ye doe so I know then that your light of this world's vanity shall be more clear then now it is And I am perswaded ye shall then think that mens labours for this clay-idol are to be laughed at Therefore come near and take a view of that transparent beauty that is in Christ which would busie the love of ten thousand millions of world's Angels hold them all at work Surely I am grieved that men will not spend their whole love upon that royal princely Welbeloved that High lofty One For it is cursed love that runneth another way then upon him And for my self if I had ten loves ten souls O how glad would I be if he would break in upon me take possession of them all Woe woe is me that He I are so far asunder I hope we shall be in one countrey one house together truly pain of love-sickness for Jesus maketh me to think it long long long to the dawning of that day Oh that he would cut short years moneths hours overleap Time that we might meet And for this truth Sir that ye profess I avow before the world of men Angels that it is the way onely way to our countrey the rest are by-wayes that what I suffer for is the apple of Christ's eye even his honour as Law-giver King of his Church I think death too little ere I forsook it Doe not Sir I beseech you in the Lord make Christ's court thinner by drawing back from him it is â—oo thin already for I dare pledge my heaven upon it he shall win this plea the fools that plea against him shall lose the wager which is their part of salvation except they take better heed to their wayes Sir free grace that we give no hire for is a jewel our Lord giveth to few Stand fast in the hope ye are called unto Our Master will rend the clouds will be upon us quicâ—ly clear our cause bring us all out in our black 's white 's Clean clean garments in the Bridegroom's eye are of great worth Step over this hand-breadth of world's glory in to our Lord 's new world of grace ye will laugh at the feathers that children are chasing in the air I veâ—â—ly judge that this Inneâ— men are building their nest in is not worth a drink of cold water It is a rainny and smoky house bâ—st we come out of it lest we be choked with the smoke thereof O that my adversaries knew how sweet my sighs for Christ are what it were for a sinner to lay his head between Christ's breasts to be over head ears in Christ's love Alas I cannot cause paper speak the height breadth depth of it I have not a ballance to weigh my Lord Jesus's worth heaven ten heavens would not be the beam of a ballance to weigh him in I must give over praising of him Angels see but little of him O if that fair one would take off the mask off his fair face that I might see him a kiss of him through his mask is half a heaven O day dawn O time run fast O Bridegroom post post fast that we may meet O hea vens cleave in two that that bright face head may set it self through the clouds O that the corn were ripe this world prepared for his hook Sir be pleased to remember a prisoner's bonds Grace be with you Aberd. July 10. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr HUGH M C KAILL 196 My very dear Brother YE know that men may take their sweet fill of the sowre Law in Grace's ground betwixt the Mediator's breasts and this is sinners safest way for there is a bed for wearied sinners to rest them in in the new Covenant though no bed of Christ's making to sleep in The Law shall never be my doomster by Christ's grace if I get no more good of it I shall finde a sore enough doom in the Gospel to humble to cast me down It is I grant a good rough friend to follow a traitour to the bar to back him till he come to Christ We may blame our selves who cause the Law to crave well paid debt to scar us away from Jesus dispute about a righteousness of our own a world in the moon a chimâ—rd a night-dream that pride is Father mother to There cannot be a more humble soul then a beleever it is no pride for a drowning man to catch hold of a rock I rejoyce that the wheels of this confused world are rolled cogged driven according as our Lord will Out of whatever aiâ—th the wind blow it will blow us on our Lord No wind can blow our sailes over-board because Christ's skill the honour of his wisdom are empawned laid down at the stake for the sea-passengers that he shall put them safe off his hand on the shore in his father's known bounds our native homeground My dear Brother scar not at the cross of Christ It is not seen yet what Christ will doe for you when it cometh to the worst He will keep his grace till ye be at a strait then bring forth the decreed birth for your salvation Ye are an arrow of his own making let him shoot you against a wall of brass your point shall keep whole I cannot for multitude of letters distractions of friends prepare what I would for the times I have not one hour of spare time suppose the day were fourtie hours long Remember me in prayer Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 5. 1637. Your in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R To his Reverend Dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON 197 My Reverend
Dear Brother I Fear ye have never known me well If ye saw my inner-side it is possible ye would pitie me but ye would hardly give me either love or respect Men mistake me the whole length of the heavens My sins prevaile over me the terrors of their guiltiness I am put often to ask if Christ I did ever shake hands together in earnest I mean not that my feast-dayes are quite gone but I am made of extremities I pray God ye never have the woefull driery experience of a closed mouth for then ye shall judge the sparrows that may sing in the Church of Irwin blessed birds But my soul hath been refreshed watered when I hear of your courage zeal for your never-enough-praised praised Master in that ye put the men of God chased out of Ireland to work O if I could confirm you I dare say in God's presence That this shall never hasten your suffering but shall be David Dickson's feast and speaking joy that while he had time and leisure he put many to work to lift up Iesus his sweet Master high in the skies O man of God goe on goe on be valiant for that plant of renown for that chief among ten thousands for that Prince of the Kings of the earth It is but little that I know of God yet this I dare write Christ shall be glorified in David Dickson howbeit Scotland be not gathered I am pained pained that I have not more to give my sweet bridegroom His comforts to me are not dealt with a niggard's hand but I would fain learn not to idolize comfort sense joy and sweet felt-presence All these are but creatures and nothing but the kingly robe the Gold-ring and the Bracelets of the Bridegroom The Bridegroom himself is better then all the ornaments that are about him Now I would not so much have these as God him sâ—lâ— to be swallowed up of love to Christ I see in delighting in a communion with Christ we may make moe Gods then oneâ— but however all was but baiâ—ns-play between Christ me till now If one would have sworn unto me I would not have beleeved what may be found in Christ I hope ye pitie my pain that much in my prison as to help me your self to cause others help me a Dyvour a sinfull wretched Dy your to pay some of my debts of praise to my great King Let my God be judge witness if my soul would not have sweet ease comfort to have many hearts confirmed in Christ enlarged with his love many tongues set on work to set on high my Royal princely welbeloved O that my sufferings could pay tribute to such a King I have given over wondering at his love for Christ hath manifested a piece of art upon me that I never revealed to any living He hath gotten fair and rich employment sweet sale a goodly market for his honourable calling of showing mercy on me the chief of sinners Every one knoweth not so well as I doe my woefully oftenbroken covenants My sins against light working in the very act of sinning hath been met with admirable mercy But Alas He will get nothing back again but wretched unthankfulness I am sure if Christ pitie any thing in me next to my sin it is pain of love for an armfull soul-full of himself in faith love begun fruition My sorrow is that I cannot get Christ lifted off the dust in Scotland set on high above all the skies heaven of heavens Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To His Reverend dear Brother Mr JOHN LIVINGSTONE 198 My Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you to be refreshed with the comforts of the bride of our Lord Jesus in Ireland I suffer with you in grief for the dash that your desires to be at N. E have received of late But if our Lord who hath skill to bring up his children had not seen it your best it should not have befallen you Hold your peace stay your selves upon the holy one of Israel hearken what he saith in crossing of your desires he will speak peace to his people I am here removed from my flock silenced confined in Aberden for the testimony of Jesus And I have been confined in spirit also with desertions challenges I gave in a bill of quarrels complaints of unkindness against Christ who seemed to cast me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree separated me from the Lord's inheritance But high high loud praises be to our royal crowned King in Zion that he hath not burnt the dry branch I shall yet live see his glory Your Mother-church for her whoredom is like to be cast off The bairns may break their heart to see such chiding betwixt the husband the wife Our Clergie is upon a Reconciliation with the Lutherians the Doctors are writing books drawing up a Common Confession at the Councel's command Our Service-book is proclaimed with sound of trumpet The night is fallen down upon the P'rophets Scotland's day of visitation is come It is time for the bride to weep while Christ is a saying He will chuse another wife But our skie will clear again The dry branch of cut-down Lebanon will bud again be glorious they shall yet plant vines upon our mountains Now My dear Brother I write to you for this end that ye may help me to praise and seek help of others with you that God may be glorified in my bonds My Lord Jesus hath taken the withered dry stranger his broken-in-heart prisoner in to his house of wine O! O If ye all Scotland all our brethren with you knew how I am feasted Christ's honâ—combs drop comforts He dineth with his prisoner the King's spikenard casteth a smell The Devil cannot get it denied but we suffer for the apple of Christ's eye his royal prerogatives as King Law-giver Let us not fear or faint He will have his Gospel once again rouped in Scotland have the matter going to voices to see who will say let Christ be crowned King in Scotland It is true Antichrist stirreth his tail but I love a rumbling raging Devil in the kirk â—ncâ— the Church militant cannot or may not want a Devil to trouble her rather then a subtile or sleeping Devil Christ never yet goâ— a bride without stroke of sword It is now nigh the bridegroom's entring in to his chamber let us awake goe in with him I bear your name to Christ's door I pray you Dear Brother forget me not Let me hear from you by Letter I charge you smother not Christ's bounty towards me I write what I have found of him in the house of my pilgrimage Remember my love to all our brethren sisters there The keeper of the vineyard watch for